Bill would allow use of sick leave for blood donation; advocates say it removes a common barrier

Senate Bill 1108 would permit workers to use earned statutory sick time to donate blood as part of a voluntary program accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks or the American Red Cross.

Juan Cotto of Bloodworks Northwest, representing the Northwest Blood Coalition, told the committee the change would remove a common barrier to donation — difficulty finding time during work hours — and would encourage public servants to donate. Cotto said donation rates are not keeping pace with demand and that the change would have a meaningful public-health benefit.

Paloma Sparks of Oregon Business and Industry said the choice to make the leave part of existing Oregon sick time rather than creating a new leave law came from stakeholder discussions; an introduced version creating a new leave was met with concern, so the amendment folded the activity into existing sick-leave law to avoid creating additional enforcement or notice burdens for employers.

Committee members asked operational questions: the committee confirmed that sick time may be used incrementally (not only as full-day blocks) and that Oregon sick time applies at a lower employer-size threshold (10 employees) than the Oregon Family Leave Act (25 employees). No other employer-size carve-outs were added in the hearing record.

Committee staff said the bill carried a minimal fiscal impact and no revenue impact. The public hearing closed with supporters urging the committee to advance the bill to increase donation opportunities.