Committee hears bill to let port payroll agent collect paid-leave premiums for dock workers

The Labor & Commerce Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 5191, a proposal to change how paid family and medical leave (PFML) premiums are collected for longshore and waterfront workers who perform work for multiple employers. Committee staff described the bill as one that would recognize an employer representative — the Pacific Maritime Association — as the reporting and premium-collection entity for dock workers covered by collective bargaining arrangements so workers are not charged premiums multiple times in a given wage year.

Susan Jones, committee staff, summarized the existing PFML system and the mechanics the bill would change, including that premiums are assessed on wages up to the Social Security taxable wage base and that employers currently report quarterly. Jones said the fiscal note estimates about $5 million in cash receipts to the family medical leave trust fund for fiscal years 2025–29 and implementation expenses of approximately $30,000;…