SENATE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5017

As Passed Senate, February 18, 2003

Title: An act relating to excluding minors working in family businesses from industrial insurance provisions.

Brief Description: Excluding minors working in family businesses from industrial insurance provisions.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Commerce & Trade (originally sponsored by Senators Hewitt, Mulliken, Morton, Stevens, Zarelli, Hale, Deccio and Parlette).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Commerce & Trade: 1/23/03, 1/31/03 [DPS].

Passed Senate: 2/18/03, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & TRADE

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5017 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Honeyford, Chair; Hewitt, Vice Chair; Franklin, Keiser and Mulliken.

Staff: Jennifer Ziegler (786-7316)

Background: Unless specifically excluded by statute, all Washington employers must provide industrial insurance coverage for employees. Currently, the provisions of the industrial insurance law do not apply to parents employing children under the age of 18 who perform agricultural activities on the family farm.

Summary of Bill: The provisions of the industrial insurance law do not apply to children under the age of 18 employed by their parents in any business if the parents provide written evidence to the department that the child is covered by health insurance. Parents must pay industrial insurance premiums for foster children that they employ.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This legislation is an excellent idea and it will help families. The concept of family-owned businesses is important. CONCERNS: A clarification is necessary regarding whether the provisions of the legislation apply to foster children.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Dan Fazio, Farm Bureau (pro); Carolyn Logue, NFIB (pro); Robby Stern, WSLC (concerns); Gary Smith, IBA (pro).