Labor & Employment (Workers' Compensation)

SB 5539 updates Washington’s state paid family and medical leave program to improve benefit accuracy and accessibility. It adjusts maximum weekly benefits to 90% of the state average weekly wage (starting at $1,000), clarifies that postnatal leave must be designated as medical leave unless workers choose family leave, and extends maximum leave duration to 18 weeks for pregnancy-related health conditions. The bill requires employers to provide written rights statements and ensures outreach materials are available in multiple languages, directly affecting all workers enrolled in the state’s paid leave program. These changes refine existing benefit calculations and administrative procedures without expanding eligibility.

SB 5381 requires the Washington Department of Labor & Industries to pay workers' compensation claims when a self-insured employer (like a business or city/municipal government) loses its certification. This applies specifically to employers whose self-insurer status is terminated by the department. The bill mandates that these former self-insurers must reimburse the department for all payments made, including compensation to injured workers, through quarterly payments. It also directs the department to create rules for managing these reimbursements and the ongoing financial obligations of decertified employers.