H-2507.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1887

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives McMorris, Conway, Clements, Honeyford, Cole and O'Brien)

Read first time 03/05/97.

Establishing department of labor and industries WISHA advisory committee.

    AN ACT Relating to establishing the department of labor and industries WISHA advisory committee; adding a new section to chapter 49.17 RCW; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 49.17 RCW to read as follows:

    The director shall appoint a WISHA advisory committee composed of ten members:  Four members representing subject workers, each of whom shall be appointed from a list of at least three names submitted by a recognized state-wide organization of employees, representing a majority of employees; four members representing subject employers, each of whom shall be appointed from a list of at least three names submitted by a recognized state-wide organization of employers, representing a majority of employers; and two ex officio members, without a vote, one of whom shall be the chairperson of the board of industrial insurance appeals, and the other representing the department.  The member representing the department shall be chairperson.  The committee shall provide comment on department rule making, policies, and other initiatives.  The committee shall also conduct a continuing study of any aspect of safety and health the committee determines to require their consideration.  The committee shall report its findings to the department or the board of industrial insurance appeals for action as deemed appropriate.  The members of the committee shall be appointed for a term of three years commencing on July 1, 1997, and the terms of the members representing the workers and employers shall be staggered so that the director shall designate one member from each group initially appointed whose term shall expire on June 30, 1998, and one member from each group whose term shall expire on June 30, 1999.  The members shall serve without compensation, but are entitled to travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.  The committee may hire such experts, if any, as it requires to discharge its duties and may utilize such personnel and facilities of the department and board of industrial insurance appeals as it needs, without charge.  All expenses of the committee must be paid by the department.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 1997.

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