H-3761.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2822

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2002 Regular Session

By Representative Romero

Read first time 01/29/2002.  Referred to Committee on State Government.

Concerning an employee's request to withhold wages for political purposes.

    AN ACT Relating to requests by employees to withhold or divert wages for political contributions; and amending RCW 42.17.680.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 42.17.680 and 1993 c 2 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) No employer or labor organization may increase the salary of an officer or employee, or give an emolument to an officer, employee, or other person or entity, with the intention that the increase in salary, or the emolument, or a part of it, be contributed or spent to support or oppose a candidate, state official against whom recall charges have been filed, political party, or political committee.

    (2) No employer or labor organization may discriminate against an officer or employee in the terms or conditions of employment for (a) the failure to contribute to, (b) the failure in any way to support or oppose, or (c) in any way supporting or opposing a candidate, ballot proposition, political party, or political committee.

    (3) No employer or other person or entity responsible for the disbursement of funds in payment of wages or salaries may withhold or divert a portion of an employee's wages or salaries for contributions to political committees or for use as political contributions except upon the written request of the employee.  The request must be made on a form prescribed by the commission informing the employee of the prohibition against employer and labor organization discrimination described in subsection (2) of this section.  ((The request is valid for no more than twelve months from the date it is made by the employee.)) The employee may revoke the request at any time.

    (4) Each person or entity who withholds contributions under subsection (3) of this section shall maintain open for public inspection for a period of no less than three years, during normal business hours, documents and books of accounts that shall include a copy of each employee's request, the amounts and dates funds were actually withheld, and the amounts and dates funds were transferred to a political committee.  Copies of such information shall be delivered to the commission upon request.

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