Committee hears bill to extend Domestic Violence Leave Act protections to hate-crime victims

A House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee staffer briefed members Friday on substitute Senate Bill 5101, which would expand the state’s Domestic Violence Leave Act to let employees who are victims of hate crimes — and certain family members — take reasonable leave or request safety accommodations.

Ben McCarthy, committee staff, said, “This bill expands the protections of the Domestic Violence Leave Act to employees who are, or whose family members are victims of hate crimes.” The existing act allows leave for domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking and permits verification through a police report, protection order, documentation from a victim advocate, an attorney, clergy or medical professional, or an employee’s written statement; leave may be paid or unpaid and an employer may require verification for permitted purposes.

The bill would add victims of hate crimes to the list of qualifying reasons for leave and extend the act’s anti-discrimination…