The Legislature reached a deal Friday night on a pared-back version of a contentious bill to give new parents five weeks of paid leave from work.

The bill lawmakers originally were considering also would have allowed paid leave to take care of a sick relative or for a personal illness. It would have funded the new program with a 2-cents-per-hour tax on workers.

The final version doesn’t say how the program would be paid for. It sets up a task force to recommend in January how the state should pay for and administer the program. The Legislature then would need to vote on funding before family leave starts in 2009.

“I say this is a historic first step for family leave insurance in our state,” said Tacoma Democratic Rep. Steve Conway, a major player in getting the bill passed.

The state House passed the bill Friday night on a 57-41 vote. The Senate plans to pass the same version, Senate Bill 5659, before the Legislature adjourns for the year on Sunday. Gov. Chris Gregoire is expected to sign it into law.

Gregoire earlier suggested she would want a public vote. But that was back when the program was to be funded with a tax on workers. Supporters didn’t want to have to wage an expensive political campaign, and agreed to favor the task force proposal instead.

Business lobbyists tried hard to kill the bill.

Republicans said on the House floor Friday that the bill would hit Washington employers hard.

“This is one more nail in the coffin of small business,” said Rep. John Ahern, R-Spokane.

The plan is for parents to receive up to $250 a week for the five weeks of family leave. Rep. Maureen Walsh, R-Walla Walla, objected that new parents should be prepared to shoulder the costs associated with having children.

Democrats said family leave is important for parents to be able to care for and bond with their children.

“It is not a luxury, it is a necessity,” said Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Forest Park.

The final version of the bill authorized the state Department of Labor and Industries to lend up to $18 million from a pension fund for start-up administration of the program.

Conway said the loan would have to be paid back with interest, and might not even happen, depending on what the task force decides.

Kent Democratic Sen. Karen Keiser, champion of the bill in the Senate, said the final version isn’t perfect but is a great first step.

“This is really a turning point,” she said.

Sean Cockerham: 360-754-6093

sean.cockerham@thenewstribune.com