Washington Governor Gregoire Signs Bills To Help Military Families
By newsdesk - Posted on March 20th, 2008
March 19, 2008 -- OLYMPIA – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today signed a bill that allows more unpaid leave for military families before or during deployment.
“I am pleased to sign this and to thank those who are sacrificing so much for our country. This bill will give military families an opportunity to connect before and after deployments,” Gregoire said. “By doing so, these families already facing uncertainty are better able to stay intact and healthy.”
The legislation provides that during periods of military conflict, employees are entitled to up to 15 days of unpaid leave before their spouse is deployed or while their spouse is on leave from deployment.
The bill also increases from 15 to 21 the number of days each year a state or local officer or employee who is a member of the Washington National Guard or Reserves is entitled to a military leave of absence from employment.
“As an Iraq War veteran, I know this bill will help Washington’s military families have precious time to connect during challenging times,” said Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens. “I am happy we can help families who are already sacrificing so much.”
This measure will align Washington with California, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska and New York, which have enacted similar legislation.
Gregoire also signed into law a bill that authorizes the state Department of Licensing to issue a special license plate to the parents of members of the U.S. armed forces who have died while in service to their country.
“These special plates will recognize and honor those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” Gregoire said. “I am honored to sign this bill and grateful to these families for their sacrifice.”
The idea for the bill came from the Washington state chapter of the Gold Star Mothers, an organization created in the 1920s whose membership is limited to mothers of armed forces members who died while in service to their country, or as a result of that service.
The organization was named after the gold star that families hung in their windows in honor of the deceased veteran.
According to the Gold State Mothers’ Web site, more than 20 states have initiated such a plate. Some states have made plates available only to mothers. Others, like Washington, make plates available to both mothers and fathers.
Source: Washington Governor
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