In May 2007, Washington became the second state in the nation (after California) to pass a paid family leave law. Effective October 1, 2009, the law will allow new parents to receive partial compensation for time they take off to spend with their new child.

Here are a few key provisions of the new law:

• Employees are eligible for benefits if they worked at least 680 hours during the prior year (or the year that ended three months before they took leave).
• Eligible employees can receive benefits for up to five weeks.
• The weekly benefit will be $250 per week for employees who work at least 35 hours per week; employees who work fewer hours will receive a prorated amount.
• Employees may receive benefits only for leave taken to care for a newborn or newly adopted child; other types of family and medical leave (for example, to care for a seriously ill family member or recuperate from a serious health condition) are not covered.

The law also creates a task force to study funding and administrative options for the program. The task force is required to report its findings and recommendations to the state legislature on January 1, 2008.

• The Essential Guide to Family & Medical Leave