A new proposal would allow state and local governments to reimburse employees for childcare or adult dependent care as part of their travel expenses when they travel for work.

SB 5485 is sponsored by Sen. Sharon Shewmake (D–Bellingham). The bill allows but doesn’t require state and local governments to reimburse officials or employees for reasonable childcare or adult dependent care expenses that the official or employee incurred while doing reimbursable work-related travel. It also amends state public service ethics laws to exclude reimbursement of reasonable travel and subsistence expenses (which includes childcare and adult dependent care) from prohibitions against using public office for “private benefit or gain” when the employee or official is traveling on official business.

The bill also contains an intent section, where it makes legislative findings that childcare and adult dependent care can be a major expense to public employees when they travel for work, and that the bill is intended to clarify that such expenses should be considered as travel expenses alongside transportation expenses, lodging, and meals. It notes that childcare and adult dependent care responsibilities fall disproportionately on women, and that the barriers to providing such care can limit advancement opportunities for public employees if they can’t travel for work.

Dates to remember

SB 5485 is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate State Government & Elections Committee on Tuesday, January 31 at 1:30 pm.