The Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) has named state Sen. Karen Keiser the DLC New Democrat of the Week for the week of March 23.

Keiser, D-Des Moines, was cited for her leadership in promoting paid family leave legislation (Senate Bill 5659), which was approved by the Senate on March 14.

The bill is now under consideration in the House of Representatives.

Keiser is recognized on the DLC's website, "New Democrats Online" (www.ndol.org).

The federal Family and Medical Leave Act enables workers to take unpaid leave from their jobs for the birth or adoption of a child, and to care for themselves, their children or an immediate family member.

Her bill would make Washington the second state, behind California, to pass paid family leave legislation.

"This is a huge step forward for all of Washington's working families. It's a common-sense program that places our state in the frontline of family friendly workplace policy," Keiser said.

"Washington voters overwhelmingly support the earning of leave by employees for use in times when families most need each other. It's time we recognize that the lives of Washington's working families need a better balance between what happens in the workplace and what happens at home."

The family leave insurance program would cover all employees who have worked at least 680 hours in the previous year and provide job protection for workers in companies of more than 25 employees who have been with their employer for a full year.

It would also provide benefits of up to $250 per week, for a maximum of five weeks. Starting January 1, 2009, employees would fund the program through a payroll premium of 2 cents per hour.

The legislation would also provide a Business and Occupation (B&O) tax credit of up to $1,200 for employers of 50 or fewer employees to cover the cost of hiring a replacement worker.

The bill includes strict standards to curb abuse and protect employers.