FINAL BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 2477

                         C 228 L 98

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Adding theatrical agencies to definition of employment agency.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Commerce Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Schoesler, McMorris, Chandler, Mulliken, Sump, Honeyford and Sheahan).

House Committee on Commerce & Labor

Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor

Background:  Employment agencies must be licensed by the Department of Licensing and must comply with certain requirements covering the form and substance of contracts with customers, fees that may be charged for services, disclosure to customers of information about the agency and customer complaint procedures.  An agency that operates without a license may be sued by its customers for amounts paid to the agency.  A court may award the customer, as damages in a lawsuit, three times the amount paid and any attorney's fees and costs.

Theatrical agencies are specifically excluded from the requirements and regulations that apply to employment agencies.  Among those businesses that are defined as theatrical agencies are modeling agencies.  A modeling agency that obtains or attempts to obtain employment for customers in the field of entertainment or modeling is not subject to the licensing and penalty provisions that apply to employment agencies.  In addition, proprietary schools are not subject to laws regulating and licensing employment agencies.

Summary:  Theatrical agencies, including modeling agencies, are excluded from the licensing and regulatory requirements governing employment agencies.  However, a person is not a theatrical agency, and is therefore subject to the laws governing employment agencies, if the person charges an applicant a fee prior to:  (1) procuring employment for the applicant; (2) providing information regarding where and from whom employment may be obtained; (3) allowing or requiring participation in an instructional class, audition or career counseling; or (4) allowing eligibility for employment through the person charging a fee.

Proprietary schools are exempt from laws governing employment agencies only to the extent of the activities for which they are otherwise licensed.

Votes on Final Passage:

House960

Senate440(Senate amended)

House960(House concurred)

Effective:June 11, 1998