Official Text and Analysis.

• Changes the definition of family member. • Modifies the requirements for certain employment protections upon return from leave. • Modifies which employees are eligible for continuation of health benefits during leave.

Requires the general fund to pay expenses of additional leave for individuals exceeding 500 as a result of the amended definition of family member for calendar years 7-1-23.

Provides that ESD must collaborate with the Paid Family and Medical Leave Advisory Committee and report to the Legislature, at specified times, with the following information: (1) Program utilization by employees under voluntary plans compared to state plans; (2) program utilization by employees working for employers with 50 or more employees compared to employees working for employers with fewer than 50 employees; (3) the number of employees who took leave from an employer and did not appear on that employer's subsequent quarterly premium reports after leave had been completed; (4) the lengths of leave taken for different purposes; (5) the number of individuals who used leave under Title 50A RCW in the preceding 12 months as a result of the bill's amended definition of family member; and (6) the effects, if any, on the family and medical leave insurance account as a result of the amended definition of family member. Adds an intent section. Removes sections on employment and health insurance protection for employees on leave.

• Expands the definition of family member in the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program. • Requires the Employment Security Department to collect and analyze data and submit reports to the Legislature with certain information relating to the PFML program. • Requires the general fund to cover additional leave expenses under certain circumstances.

Specifies that the definition of "family member" for paid family and medical leave (PFML) does not include an individual who resides in the employee's home with no expectation of care. Modifies the requirement that the Employment Security Department (ESD) collaborate with the PFML Advisory Committee on the data collection requirements to a requirement that ESD develop the proposed plan for data collection in consultation with the PFML Advisory Committee. Removes requirements that ESD include certain data on employee leave use and returns in the first required report to the Legislature. Requires ESD to provide opportunity for members of the PFML Advisory Committee to provide comment in each required report to the Legislature.

Modifies the amended definition of "family member" for purposes of paid family and medical leave to: (1) refer to "an" individual residing in the employee's home, rather than "any" individual residing in the employee's home; and (2) remove duplicative language.

Senate concurred in House amendment(s).