SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1178

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

            Labor, Commerce & Trade, March 28, 1995

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

Brief Description:  Exempting persons under age twenty‑one employed on the family farm from industrial insurance coverage.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives McMorris, Lisk, Mulliken, Chandler, L. Thomas, Thompson, Boldt, Mastin, Goldsmith, Stevens, Schoesler, Honeyford, Johnson, Koster, Mielke and Sheahan).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Labor, Commerce & Trade:  3/16/95, 3/28/95 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & TRADE

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Pelz, Chair; Fraser, Hale, Newhouse and Palmer.

Staff:  Jack Brummel (786-7428)

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. 

Parental employment of a child under age 18 is exempt from mandatory coverage in agricultural activities on the family farm.

Summary of Bill:  The exclusion from industrial insurance coverage of children under age 18 who are employed by their parents on the family farm is deleted.  Parents employing a child under age 21 may opt out of mandatory industrial insurance coverage if the child being excluded is employed by the parents in agricultural activities on their family farm and either resides with the parents or resides on their family farm.  To elect exclusion from coverage, the parents must file a written notice with the Department of Labor and Industries.  The parents may subsequently obtain coverage for the excluded person by filing a notice of election of coverage.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This allows parents to opt out of mandatory coverage under L&I.  The bill eases the burden on family farms.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative McMorris (pro).