Brief Description: Recodifying RCW 19.48.130 as a section in the minimum wage act.

Sponsors: By Representatives Moeller and Conway.

House Committee on Commerce & Labor
Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development

Background:

Legislation enacted in 2007 requires businesses that provide food, beverage, entertainment, or porterage to disclose the percentage of automatic service charges that are paid directly to employees. The disclosure must be in itemized receipts and menus provided to the customers. The disclosure requirement is codified in a chapter relating to hotels, lodging houses, and restaurants.

The chapter relating to hotels, lodging houses, and restaurants does not include enforcement provisions or civil or criminal penalties.

The Washington Minimum Wage Act (Act) includes provisions authorizing the Director of the Department of Labor and Industries to conduct investigations necessary to determine whether the Act has been violated. An employer who violates the Act or who retaliates against an employee for filing a complaint of a violation is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

Summary:

The disclosure requirement relating to service charges in the hotels, lodging houses, and restaurants chapter is recodified in the Washington Minimum Wage Act.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   70   25
Senate   32   13

Effective: June 12, 2008