S-5219.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6875

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature 2000 2nd Special Session

By Senators Prentice, Winsley, Fairley, Rasmussen, Kohl‑Welles, Gardner, Snyder, Heavey, Hargrove, McAuliffe, Eide, Shin, Thibaudeau, Goings, Franklin, Costa, Spanel and Jacobsen

Read first time 04/26/2000.  Referred to Committee on Commerce, Trade, Housing & Financial Institutions.

Prohibiting the labeling of a required payment as a "tip" or "gratuity."

    AN ACT Relating to required gratuities; and adding a new section to chapter 19.86 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 19.86 RCW to read as follows:

    It is unlawful for a "seller," as defined in RCW 82.08.010, to label an amount as a "tip" or "gratuity" when that amount is not a genuine voluntary payment by a buyer in connection with a retail sale.  For the purposes of this section, a payment of an amount by a buyer is voluntary if the product or service that is the subject of the transaction is made available by the seller to the buyer at the same price with or without the payment of the amount labeled "tip" or "gratuity."  A written computation of a suggested or customary tip or gratuity supplied by the seller as a convenience to the buyer does not by itself convert an otherwise voluntary payment by the buyer to a required payment.  A violation of this section is an unfair or deceptive act in trade or commerce and is a violation of this chapter.

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