CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1706

Chapter 204, Laws of 2022

67TH LEGISLATURE

2022 REGULAR SESSION

DRAYAGE TRUCK OPERATORS—ACCESS TO RESTROOM FACILITIES

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 9, 2022

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1706

AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

ByHouse Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Sells, Ryu, Wicks, Berry, Valdez, Graham, Berg, Macri, Peterson, Senn, Shewmake, Orwall, Gregerson, Dolan, Fitzgibbon, Paul, Stonier, Davis, Riccelli, Santos, Taylor, and Kloba)

AN ACT Relating to truck drivers ability to access restroom facilities; adding a new section to chapter 70.54 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 70.54 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(a) "Drayage truck operator" means the driver of any in-use on-road vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 33,000 pounds operating on or transgressing through port or intermodal rail yard property for the purpose of loading, unloading, or transporting cargo, including containerized, bulk, or break-bulk goods.

(b)(i) "Terminal operator" means the business entity operating a marine terminal for loading and unloading cargo to and from marine vessels.

(ii) "Terminal operator" includes the port if the port is directly operating the marine terminal in loading and unloading cargo to and from marine vessels.

(2) A terminal operator must provide a sufficient number of restrooms for use by drayage truck operators in areas of the terminal that drayage truck operators typically have access to, such as inside the gate and truck queuing lots. Restrooms may include fixed bathrooms with flush toilets or portable chemical toilets. At least one restroom provided by the terminal operator must be a private space suitable for and dedicated to expressing breast milk.

(3) A terminal operator is deemed in compliance with this section if the terminal operator:

(a) Allows drayage truck operators access to existing restrooms while the drayage truck operators are on port property in areas of the terminal that drayage truck operators typically have access to and when access does not pose an obvious safety risk to the drayage truck operators and other workers in the area and does not violate federal terminal security requirements;

(b) When necessary, provides additional restrooms at locations where there is the most need. To determine need, the terminal operator must assess the use and accessibility of existing restrooms and conduct a survey of drayage truck operators; and

(c) Has a policy that allows drayage truck operators to leave their vehicles at reasonable times and locations for purposes of accessing restrooms.

(4) Restrooms for drayage truck operators must be located in areas where access would not pose an obvious health or safety risk to the drayage truck operators or other workers in the area.

(5)(a) The departments of health and labor and industries have jurisdiction to enforce this section.

(b) The department of health may issue a warning letter to the port terminal operator for a first violation of this section, informing the port terminal operator of the requirements of this section. A port terminal operator that violates this section after receiving a warning letter is guilty of a class 2 civil infraction under chapter 7.80 RCW.

(c) Failure of a terminal operator to comply with this section is a violation of chapter 49.17 RCW.

(d) The departments may not take duplicate enforcement actions against an individual or business for violations arising from the same conduct.

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