S-1418.1  _______________________________________________

                 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 8407

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Senators Prentice, Hochstatter, T. Sheldon, Honeyford, Eide, Hale and Winsley

Read first time 02/15/1999.  Referred to Committee on Labor & Workforce Development.

Creating an employment standards task force.

    WHEREAS, The state economy has undergone significant changes since the last review of Washington state wage and hour laws; and

    WHEREAS, State wage and hour laws have been passed in a piecemeal fashion over the years, which has created a number of gaps and inconsistencies; and

    WHEREAS, In recent years, lawsuits have overturned long-standing employment practices in areas where Washington statutes have failed to address critical issues; and

    WHEREAS, Even recordkeeping requirements are confusing, and enforcement provisions raise serious concerns; and

    WHEREAS, Both business and labor are seeking major changes to the state wage and hour laws;

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That a study of the state wage and hour laws be conducted to review, and to make recommendations on, the following issues:

    (1) Whether existing laws can be consolidated to eliminate duplicative requirements and to make laws clearer for both workers and employers;

    (2) Whether wage collection and enforcement provisions within the law are adequate, and whether existing resources are sufficient;

    (3) What wage and hour issues the existing laws fail to address, and whether there can be greater consistency between federal and state requirements;

    (4) Whether changes are required in the existing exemptions and other coverage provisions;

    (5) Whether employer recordkeeping requirements can be improved, and whether other agency requirements can be examined as part of the review;

    (6) Whether current employer payroll requirements are adequate compared with other options;

    (7) What steps can be taken to reduce litigation and to make employers and workers more aware of their rights and obligations; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the study be conducted by an employment standards task force composed of:  One member from each caucus of the Senate, at least one of those being a member of the Senate labor and workforce development committee, appointed by the President of the Senate; and one member from each caucus of the House of Representatives, at least one of those being a member of the House of Representatives commerce and labor committee, appointed by the Co-Speakers of the House of Representatives; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the task force shall consult with, and shall be advised and monitored by, an advisory committee consisting of seven members:  Three members representing labor, appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Co-Speakers of the House of Representatives from a list of names recommended by a statewide organization representing a cross section and majority of organized labor in the state; three members representing business, appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Co-Speakers of the House of Representatives from a list of names recommended by a statewide organization of employers representing a majority of employers of the state; and one member representing the department of labor and industries employment standards division; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the department of labor and industries shall be the lead agency and report the findings and recommendations of the employment standards task force study to the commerce and labor committees of the Senate and House of Representatives by December 1, 1999; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the employment standards task force expires July 1, 2000.

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