Workers in Washington could get paid leave to stay home and bond with a new baby or care for a sick parent, under a bill proposed by a Democratic representative in the Legislature.

It would create a family and medical leave insurance program, paid for by workers. Those workers would then receive money to care for themselves, family members or domestic partners.

"It will affect workers who don't have sick leave or in quantities large enough to tide them over when they have serious illnesses in their family or when they need to take time off for the birth of a child," said Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, D-Seattle, the bill's sponsor.

The state Senate approved a similar bill last year, but it did not make it to a vote in the House.

This year's bill has garnered support from labor unions, women and children advocacy groups, and educators, Dickerson said. But business groups worry that it adds to the cost of doing business in Washington and sets up more mandates for employers.

About 70 percent of Washington companies provide their full-time employees with paid vacation, while 44 percent provide full-time workers with paid sick leave, according the state's Employment Security Department. Small companies are less likely to provide paid sick leave, as are businesses in industries such as food service, construction and retail.

Marilyn Watkins, policy director for the Economic Opportunity Institute in Seattle, said the program would fill in gaps for workers who already have some paid sick leave or access to short-term disability -- and provide an option for those that don't.

"It would give workers some means of support," she said.

Under proposed House Bill 1658 workers would pay a premium of 2 cents per hour worked up to 40 hours a week. Workers could then claim up to $250 per week for up to five weeks to replace wages they might lose while caring for a sick family member or staying home with a new child. Someone working full-time at a minimum wage job earns about $317 per week before taxes.

"It's not a lot, but it will help keep the bills paid and food on the table," said David Groves, spokesman for the Washington State Labor Council.

All workers and employers -- regardless of the size of the company -- would be part of the program. Any benefit from it would be in addition to what the employer already provides.

The Economic Opportunity Institute surveyed 47 firms in Western Washington and determined that 87 percent supported family and medical leave insurance.

But the Association of Washington Business and the National Federation of Independent Business, which represent small businesses, oppose the program and have concerns about how it would affect their thousands of members.

Gary Chandler, AWB's vice president of governmental affairs, questioned whether the 2-cent-per-hour premium would support such a program and said such bills make the state less competitive for business.

Carolyn Logue, NFIB director in Washington, said many small businesses already work with their employees to grant sick or family leave when it's needed.

That's the case at Abolins, a Tacoma electronics store with eight employees.

Owner David Senner said he can't afford to provide sick leave for his employees. But he has paid people when they couldn't make it in because of family emergencies.

"Employees are our company, and if we abandon them in a time of need, then it doesn't bode well for the relationship," Senner said.

In 2004, California became the first state to set up family leave insurance as part of its state disability insurance program.

Linda Fredericksen, project manager for the state's program, said the number of people using the program has been fairly low.

More than 13 million workers in California are eligible for the program, which received about 160,000 claims in the last fiscal year. The vast majority -- 90 percent -- of the claims are for bonding -- mothers or fathers spending time with new children. The other 10 percent were used to care for ill family members, Fredericksen said.

Advocates are optimistic this year that the Washington program will become a reality. They hope it will be scheduled for a committee hearing next week. Two Republicans support the House bill and a similar bill is being proposed in the Senate.

"We have a different composition for both the Senate and the House," Dickerson said. "And we have a growing number of requests to enact paid family leave."