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Senator Frederick’s bill to give workers four hours paid leave for blood donation draws mixed reactions at committee hearing
Summary
Senate Bill 1108 would require employers to allow up to four hours of paid leave per year for blood donation without loss of pay or benefits. Supporters said it could boost donations during shortages; school and business groups raised concerns about large unfunded costs and overlap with existing leave laws.
Senate Bill 1108, sponsored by Senator Frederick, drew both support and concern at a public hearing before the Senate Committee on Labor and Business on April 1.
The bill would require employers to permit an employee to use up to four hours of paid leave per calendar year to donate blood without loss of time, pay or benefits. The measure specifies that this leave would be in addition to any other accrued paid leave to which an employee is entitled.
Senator Lou Frederick (D‑District 22), who testified remotely, said the bill was prompted by a constituent who moved from Kentucky, where blood‑donation leave exists. Frederick said the U.S. faces a critical national blood shortage and that weather‑canceled drives in Oregon have exacerbated the problem. He asked the committee to consider a forthcoming technical amendment that would: tie the leave into existing employment leave laws; require 14 days’ notice; permit employers to request certification that the leave was used for blood donation; allow one‑hour increments; and clarify that unused leave would not accrue or be paid out.
Stacy Michaelson, testifying for the Oregon School Boards Association, opposed SB 1108 on financial grounds. Michaelson said school business officials estimated the statewide cost to provide substitute coverage for licensed classroom staff taking the four hours could be $26.8 million. She also noted that substitutes are typically hired in half‑day increments, so paying for one‑hour absences would not reduce sub costs.
Paloma Sparks of Oregon Business and Industry said the organization supports the goal of encouraging blood donations but worried the bill would add another separate leave law to Oregon’s already complex leave landscape. Sparks urged that the policy be aligned with existing leave structures — for example, adding donation time to Oregon Sick Time or the Oregon Family Leave Act — rather than creating a standalone requirement. She and other opponents said they were open to the technical amendment the sponsor mentioned and looked forward to reviewing it.
Senator Frederick told the committee he would deliver the amendment as soon as it is available. The committee closed the public hearing on SB 1108; members did not vote and the bill was carried over for later consideration.
