Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Labor & Workforce Development Committee

HB 1258

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Allowing employers to pay a training wage for a specified period of time.

Sponsors: Representatives Condotta, Shea, Chandler, Taylor, Short and Warnick.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Allows employers to pay a training wage for a specified period of time.

Hearing Date:

Staff: Alexa Silver (786-7190).

Background:

Initiative 688 (approved by voters in 1998) directs the Department of Labor and Industries (Department) to increase the state minimum wage rate for workers aged 18 and older for inflation each year. The Department has authority to establish the minimum wage rate for minors in rule.  The rules require that those under the age of 16 must be paid at least 85 percent of the minimum wage rate and those aged 16 or 17 years of age must be paid at least the same minimum wage rate as adults.

To prevent curtailment of opportunities for employment, the Department also has authority to issue special certificates to employers to pay wages lower than the minimum wage for a fixed period of time. The Department has adopted rules for issuance of special certificates to handicapped workers, adult learners, student learners, and student workers.

Summary of Bill:

The Department is required to establish a special training certificate that allows employers to pay new employees 75 percent of the state minimum wage or the federal minimum wage, whichever is greater, during a training period. The following restrictions apply to the use of the special training certificate:

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.