BILL REQ. #:  S-0514.1 

Read first time 01/15/09.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to ergonomic airline seats; adding a new section to chapter 43.19 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that state employees travel on airlines as part of their employment and that extended exposure to nonergonomic airline seats presents a health and safety risk to state employees. Therefore, the legislature intends to provide for employees who are engaged in job-related travel the same healthy and safe environment that exists in the workplace.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.19 RCW to read as follows:
     When soliciting bids for discount air travel pursuant to this chapter, the department of general administration shall include in the solicitation a provision requiring airlines to provide seats for employees that meet current health and safety standards as established by the department of labor and industries on all flights reasonably expected to be longer than two hours. The solicitation shall also include a provision requiring a discounted ticket price when the airline is unable to provide a seat for the employee that meets current health and safety standards.