HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2322

                      As Passed House:

                      February 5, 1996

Title:  An act relating to exemptions from industrial insurance coverage for persons under age twenty‑one employed on the family farm.

Brief Description:  Providing exemptions from industrial insurance for persons under age twenty‑one employed on family farms.

Sponsors:  Representatives McMorris, Mastin, Chandler, Schoesler, McMahan, Skinner, Goldsmith, L. Thomas, Mulliken, Sheldon, Johnson, Thompson and Hargrove.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Commerce & Labor:  1/18/96, 1/22/96 [DP].

  Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/5/96, 96-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives McMorris, Chairman; Hargrove, Vice Chairman; Thompson, Vice Chairman; Romero, Ranking Minority Member; Conway, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Cairnes; Cody; Cole; Goldsmith; Horn and Lisk.

Staff:  Chris Cordes (786-7117).

Background:  The state industrial insurance law requires most employers to be self-insured or to purchase industrial insurance from the Department of Labor and Industries.  This insurance provides benefits to workers who are injured at work or who develop an occupational disease.  Employers who are exempt from this requirement may elect coverage for their workers by filing notice with the department.

The industrial insurance statute lists the types of employment that are excluded from mandatory coverage.  These exemptions include the employment of a child under age 18 who is employed by his or her parents in agricultural activities on the family farm.

Summary of Bill:  The parent of a person at least 18 years of age but under age 21 may elect to exclude the parent's employment of that person from industrial insurance coverage if the person being excluded is employed by the parent in agricultural activities on the family farm and either resides with the parent or resides on the family farm.  To elect exclusion from coverage, the parent must file a written notice with the Department of Labor and Industries.  The parent may subsequently obtain coverage for the excluded person by filing a notice of election of coverage.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 10, 1996.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  None.