SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6263
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Labor, Commerce & Financial Institutions, January 29, 2002
Title: An act relating to contracts for modeling and theatrical agencies.
Brief Description: Requiring modeling and theatrical agencies that charge a fee to provide applicants with a contract.
Sponsors: Senators Prentice, Kohl-Welles, Keiser and Gardner.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce & Financial Institutions: 1/15/02, 1/29/02 [DPS].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6263 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Keiser, Vice Chair; Benton, Fairley, Franklin, Gardner, Hochstatter, Honeyford, Rasmussen, Regala and Winsley.
Staff: Elizabeth Mitchell (786-7430)
Background: Modeling agencies are currently included in the definition of "theatrical agencies" and are not considered to be employment agencies by the Department of Licensing. However, any individual person who charges up front fees for modeling or theatrical employment services is considered to be an employment agency under current law.
There is concern that some modeling agencies may mislead applicants about fees to be paid for a service.
Summary of Substitute Bill: Individual persons who charge up front fees for modeling or theatrical employment services are no longer considered to be employment agencies.
If a modeling or theatrical agency charges a fee for a service, the agency must provide applicants with a contract before the service is provided. Contracts must specify the amount to be paid and the time and method of payments. People have seven days to cancel contracts with modeling and theatrical agencies.
Modeling and theatrical agencies are separately defined. Obsolete terms in the "theatrical agency" definition are changed or deleted.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The section regarding contracts for modeling and theatrical agencies is moved to the miscellaneous business regulations title. A seven-day cancellation period is also provided for contracts.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 9, 2002.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: None.
Testimony Against: According to this bill, the Department of Licensing would only funnel complaints from consumers to the Attorney General's Office.
Testified: Harumi Tolbert, DOL (con).