BILL REQ. #:  H-1845.1 



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SECOND SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1440
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State of Washington63rd Legislature2013 Regular Session

By House Finance (originally sponsored by Representatives McCoy, Sullivan, Ryu, Sells, Green, Cody, Moscoso, Goodman, Bergquist, Riccelli, Hunt, Fitzgibbon, Pollet, Seaquist, Roberts, Ormsby, Stonier, Pettigrew, Van De Wege, Hudgins, Reykdal, Blake, Freeman, Moeller, Jinkins, Appleton, and Kagi)

READ FIRST TIME 03/01/13.   



     AN ACT Relating to ensuring fairness to employers by protecting employees; amending RCW 39.12.010, 39.12.050, 49.52.070, 49.48.084, 50.12.070, 50.12.072, 50.24.070, 50.04.100, 50.04.298, 51.08.070, and 51.08.180; reenacting and amending RCW 49.48.082, 49.48.060, and 49.46.010; adding new sections to chapter 39.12 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 49.52 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 49.48 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 49.46 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 50.04 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 49 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 60 RCW; creating new sections; repealing RCW 39.12.100, 49.46.100, 50.04.140, 50.04.145, 51.08.181, and 51.08.195; and prescribing penalties.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that underground economy activity in this state results in millions of dollars of lost revenue to the state and is unfair to workers and law abiding businesses. Theft of wages by employers, whether through misclassification, illegal deductions, or failure to pay wages owed, is a significant problem, particularly in low-wage industries. The legislature finds that improving compliance with wage-related laws will help address the problems of the underground economy, level the playing field for honest employers and contractors, and protect workers.

Employee Fair Classification Act

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   This chapter may be known and cited as the employee fair classification act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Department" means the department of labor and industries.
     (2) "Director" means the director of the department of labor and industries.
     (3) "Employ" means to suffer or permit to work.
     (4)(a) "Employee" means a person who performs services for an employer. A person or entity may be an employee of two or more employers at the same time.
     (b) "Employee" does not include: (i) A bona fide independent contractor; (ii) an individual employed in the capacity of an outside salesperson paid solely by way of commission, as defined and delimited by rules of the director; or (iii) an individual employed on a casual and sporadic basis.
     (5) "Employer" means any of the following that employ a person: (a) An individual; (b) any form of business entity, or the receiver, trustee, or successor of a business entity; (c) an administrator or executor of an estate; and (d) the state or any agency, instrumentality, or political subdivision of the state. "Employer" includes an individual or entity that acts directly or indirectly in the interest of an employer in relation to employing a person. "Employer" does not include agencies, authorities, or instrumentalities of the United States, its possessions and territories, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia.      
     (6) "Front pay" means the compensation the employee would earn if reinstated to his or her former position.
     (7) "Interested party" means: A contractor or subcontractor or an employee of a contractor or subcontractor; the director or the director's designee; an organization whose members' wages, benefits, and conditions of employment are affected by this chapter, including a labor union; or any other organization of workers that exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of interacting with employers.
     (8) "Misclassification" means willfully designating an employee as not an employee of the employer.
     (9)(a) "Pattern or practice" means that, in addition to the current violation, within the previous ten years the employer was:
     (i) Convicted of a criminal violation of a state or local law concerning nonpayment of wages;
     (ii) Subject to a court order entering final judgment for a violation of this chapter or chapter 49.46, 49.48, 49.52, or 39.12 RCW, and the judgment was not satisfied or current within thirty days of the later of: (A) The expiration of the time for appealing the order; or (B) if a timely appeal was made, the date of the final resolution of the appeal; or
     (iii) Subject to a final and binding citation and notice of assessment from the department for a violation of this chapter or chapter 49.46, 49.48, 49.52, or 39.12 RCW, and the citation and penalty were not satisfied or current within thirty days of the date the citation became final and binding.
     (b) For purposes of this subsection (9), an employer includes a successor employer, as defined in RCW 49.48.082.
     (10) "Willful" means a knowing and intentional action that is neither accidental nor the result of a bona fide dispute.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   (1) An employer-employee relationship is presumed to exist when an individual performs services for an employer. The party asserting that an individual is not an employee must establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the individual is an independent contractor.
     (2) An individual is an independent contractor if he or she performs services for an employer and:
     (a) The individual is and will continue to be free from control or direction over the performance of the services by the party for whom the services are performed, both under the contract of service and in fact. An individual is an employee if the party for whom the services are performed exercises or has the right to exercise general control over the individual's physical activities;
     (b) The service is either outside the usual course of business for which the service is performed, or the service is performed outside of all the places of business of the enterprise for which the service is performed; and
     (c) The individual is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, business, or profession of the same nature as that involved in the contract of service.
     (3) The withholding of federal income taxes with respect to the individual may not be considered in determining whether an individual is an independent contractor within the meaning of this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   (1) An employer shall not misclassify an employee as an independent contractor.
     (2) An employer shall not charge an employee who has been misclassified as an independent contractor a fee, or make any deductions from compensation for any purpose, including for goods, materials, space rental, services, government licenses, repairs, equipment maintenance, or fines arising from the employment where any of the acts described in this subsection (2) would have violated the law if the individual had not been misclassified.
     (3) No person may require or request an employee to enter into an agreement or sign a document that results in the misclassification of the employee as an independent contractor or otherwise does not accurately reflect the employee's relationship with the employer.
     (4) No person may perform the following acts for the purpose of facilitating or evading detection of a violation of this section:
     (a) Form, assist in, or induce the formation of a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other business entity; or
     (b) Pay or collect a fee for use of a foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other business entity.
     (5) A person may not conspire with, aid and abet, assist, or advise an employer with the intent of violating this chapter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   (1) An employer may not discharge, threaten, penalize, or otherwise discriminate or retaliate against an employee because:
     (a) The employee made a complaint, or the employer believes the employee made a complaint, to the employer, the department, the attorney general, or any other person that the employer engaged in conduct that the employee reasonably believes violates this chapter;
     (b) The employee has caused to be instituted, or is about to cause to be instituted, a proceeding under or related to this chapter;
     (c) The employee has testified or is about to testify in a proceeding under or related to this chapter;
     (d) The employee has, or the employer believes the employee has, otherwise exercised rights protected by this chapter; or
     (e) The department has determined that the employer violated this chapter.
     (2) If an employer takes adverse action against an employee within ninety days of the employee having engaged in an activity described in subsection (1) of this section, the employer is presumed to have acted in retaliation. The employer may rebut this presumption with clear and convincing evidence that the adverse action was taken for a permissible purpose. For purposes of this subsection, "adverse action" includes discharging, threatening, penalizing, or otherwise discriminating against an employee.
     (3) A complaint or other communication by an employee triggers the protections of this section regardless of whether the complaint or communication is in writing or makes explicit reference to this chapter.
     (4) A violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   (1) The department may conduct an investigation if it obtains information indicating an employer may have violated this chapter, but the department may not investigate a violation of this chapter that occurred more than three years before the date the department obtained the information.
     (2) If the department determines that an employer violated this chapter, it may:
     (a) For a violation of section 9 of this act, order the employer to pay a civil penalty of not less than one thousand dollars and not more than ten thousand dollars;
     (b) For a violation of section 5 or 6 of this act, order the employer to pay a civil penalty of: (i) Not less than one thousand dollars and not more than ten thousand dollars per employee; or (ii) if the employer has engaged in a pattern or practice of violations, not less than ten thousand dollars and not more than twenty-five thousand dollars per employee;
     (c) Order the employer to pay any employee aggrieved by a violation of section 5 or 6 of this act the greater of: (i) Ten thousand dollars; or (ii) three times the amount of any wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation unlawfully denied or withheld;
     (d) Order the employer to reinstate the employee to his or her former position at not less than the most recent rate of compensation received by the employee, including the value of any benefits; and
     (e) Determine whether to initiate collection procedures pursuant to RCW 51.16.150 through 51.16.190, and send a copy of its determination, including any supporting documentation, to the employment security department.
     (3) An employer may appeal the department's determination pursuant to RCW 49.48.084.
     (4) The department shall deposit civil penalties paid under this chapter into the employee fair classification act account created in section 10 of this act.
     (5) The director shall accept referrals based on a court finding of a violation of section 5 of this act and may initiate proceedings as provided in this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   (1) An interested party or an individual aggrieved by a violation of section 5 or 6 of this act may bring suit on behalf of himself or herself or on behalf of any other individual who is similarly situated.
     (2) If a court determines that an employer violated section 5 or 6 of this act, it:
     (a) Shall award the greater of:
     (i) Three times the amount of any wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation unlawfully denied or withheld; or
     (ii) Statutory damages for each employee aggrieved by the violation. Statutory damages may not exceed ten thousand dollars per employee, unless the employer engaged in a pattern or practice of violations, in which case the statutory damages must be not less than ten thousand dollars and not more than twenty-five thousand dollars per employee;
     (b) May award injunctive or other equitable relief, including reinstatement of the employee to his or her former position at not less than the most recent rate of compensation received by the employee, including the value of any benefits, or front pay in lieu of reinstatement; and
     (c) Shall award attorneys' fees and costs.
     (3) A civil action under this section must be brought no later than three years after the violation occurred. This period is tolled during any period of time that the employer deters an individual from bringing an action under this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   (1) If an employer engages an individual to perform services and does not consider the individual to be an employee, the employer shall post and keep posted the following notice:
     "Every worker has the right to be properly classified as an employee rather than an independent contractor if the individual does not meet the requirements of an independent contractor under the law known as the employee fair classification act.
     If you believe you or someone else has been improperly classified as an independent contractor under the employee fair classification act, you have the right to challenge this classification by filing a complaint with the department of labor and industries or by bringing an action in state court."
     (2) The notice required by this section must be in English and Spanish and must be posted in a conspicuous place in each of the employer's offices in the state and at each job site where a worker classified as an individual contractor performs services.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10   The employee fair classification act account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from civil penalties issued under section 7 of this act must be deposited in the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used for enforcement of this chapter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 11   The department may adopt rules to implement this chapter. In addition, the department shall develop a plan for strategic enforcement of this chapter, prioritizing industries and workplaces with a high concentration of violations.

Prevailing Wage

Sec. 12   RCW 39.12.010 and 1989 c 12 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The "prevailing rate of wage", for the intents and purposes of this chapter, shall be the rate of hourly wage, usual benefits, and overtime paid in the locality, as hereinafter defined, to the majority of workers, laborers, or mechanics, in the same trade or occupation. In the event that there is not a majority in the same trade or occupation paid at the same rate, then the average rate of hourly wage and overtime paid to such laborers, workers, or mechanics in the same trade or occupation shall be the prevailing rate. If the wage paid by any contractor or subcontractor to laborers, workers, or mechanics on any public work is based on some period of time other than an hour, the hourly wage for the purposes of this chapter shall be mathematically determined by the number of hours worked in such period of time.
     (2) The "locality" for the purposes of this chapter shall be the largest city in the county wherein the physical work is being performed.
     (3) The "usual benefits" for the purposes of this chapter shall include the amount of:
     (a) The rate of contribution irrevocably made by a contractor or subcontractor to a trustee or to a third person pursuant to a fund, plan, or program; and
     (b) The rate of costs to the contractor or subcontractor which may be reasonably anticipated in providing benefits to workers, laborers, and mechanics pursuant to an enforceable commitment to carry out a financially responsible plan or program which was communicated in writing to the workers, laborers, and mechanics affected, for medical or hospital care, pensions on retirement or death, compensation for injuries or illness resulting from occupational activity, or insurance to provide any of the foregoing, for unemployment benefits, life insurance, disability and sickness insurance, or accident insurance, for vacation and holiday pay, for defraying costs of apprenticeship or other similar programs, or for other bona fide fringe benefits, but only where the contractor or subcontractor is not required by other federal, state, or local law to provide any of such benefits.
     (4) ((An "interested party" for the purposes of this chapter shall include a contractor, subcontractor, an employee of a contractor or subcontractor, an organization whose members' wages, benefits, and conditions of employment are affected by this chapter, and the director of labor and industries or the director's designee.)) "Employee" means a person who performs services for an employer, but does not include a bona fide independent contractor. A person or entity may be an employee of two or more employers at the same time.
     (5) "Department," "employ," "employer," "front pay," "interested party," and "pattern or practice" mean the same as defined in section 3 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 13   A new section is added to chapter 39.12 RCW to read as follows:
     Section 4 of this act governs the determination of independent contractor status for purposes of this chapter.

Sec. 14   RCW 39.12.050 and 2009 c 219 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Any contractor or subcontractor who files a false statement or fails to file any statement or record required to be filed under this chapter and the rules adopted under this chapter, shall, after a determination to that effect has been issued by the director after hearing under chapter 34.05 RCW, forfeit as a civil penalty the sum of five hundred dollars for each false filing or failure to file, and shall not be permitted to bid, or have a bid considered, on any public works contract until the penalty has been paid in full to the director. The civil penalty under this subsection shall not apply to a violation determined by the director to be an inadvertent filing or reporting error. Civil penalties shall be deposited in the public works administration account.
     To the extent that a contractor or subcontractor has not paid wages at the rate due pursuant to RCW 39.12.020, and a finding to that effect has been made as provided by this subsection, such unpaid wages shall constitute a lien against the bonds and retainage as provided in RCW 18.27.040, 19.28.041, 39.08.010, and 60.28.011.
     (2) If a contractor or subcontractor is found to have violated the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, or of chapter 49.-- RCW (the new chapter created in section 61 of this act), or both, for a second time within a five year period, the contractor or subcontractor shall be subject to the sanctions prescribed in subsection (1) of this section and shall not be allowed to bid on any public works contract for one year. The one year period shall run from the date of notice by the director of the determination of noncompliance. When an appeal is taken from the director's determination, the one year period shall commence from the date of the final determination of the appeal.
     The director shall issue his or her findings that a contractor or subcontractor has violated the provisions of this subsection after a hearing held subject to the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 15   A new section is added to chapter 39.12 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) An employer may not discharge, threaten, penalize, or otherwise discriminate or retaliate against an employee because:
     (a) The employee made a complaint, or the employer believes the employee made a complaint, to the employer, the department, the attorney general, or any other person that the employer engaged in conduct that the employee reasonably believes violates this chapter;
     (b) The employee has caused to be instituted, or is about to cause to be instituted, a proceeding under or related to this chapter;
     (c) The employee has testified or is about to testify in a proceeding under or related to this chapter;
     (d) The employee has, or the employer believes the employee has, otherwise exercised rights protected by this chapter; or
     (e) The department has determined that the employer violated this chapter.
     (2) If an employer takes adverse action against an employee within ninety days of the employee having engaged in an activity described in subsection (1) of this section, the employer is presumed to have acted in retaliation. The employer may rebut this presumption with clear and convincing evidence that the adverse action was taken for a permissible purpose. For purposes of this subsection, "adverse action" includes discharging, threatening, penalizing, or otherwise discriminating against an employee.
     (3) A complaint or other communication by an employee triggers the protections of this section regardless of whether the complaint or communication is in writing or makes explicit reference to this chapter.
     (4) A violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 16   A new section is added to chapter 39.12 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) If, following an investigation, the department determines that an employer violated section 15 of this act, it may order the employer to:
     (a) Pay a civil penalty of not less than one thousand dollars and not more than ten thousand dollars per employee;
     (b) Pay any aggrieved employee the greater of: (i) Ten thousand dollars; or (ii) three times the amount of any wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation unlawfully denied or withheld; or
     (c) Reinstate the employee to his or her former position at not less than the most recent rate of compensation received by the employee, including the value of any benefits.
     (2) A judicial appeal from the department's determination may be taken in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW, with the prevailing party entitled to recover reasonable costs and attorneys' fees.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 17   A new section is added to chapter 39.12 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) An interested party or an individual aggrieved by a violation of section 15 of this act may bring suit on behalf of himself or herself or on behalf of any other individual who is similarly situated.
     (2) If a court determines that an employer violated section 15 of this act, it:
     (a) Shall award the greater of:
     (i) Three times the amount of any wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation unlawfully denied or withheld; or
     (ii) Statutory damages for each employee aggrieved by the violation. Statutory damages may not exceed ten thousand dollars per employee, unless the employer engaged in a pattern or practice of violations, in which case the statutory damages must be not less than ten thousand dollars and not more than twenty-five thousand dollars per employee;
     (b) May award injunctive or other equitable relief, including reinstatement of the employee to his or her former position at not less than the most recent rate of compensation received by the employee, including the value of any benefits, or front pay in lieu of reinstatement; and
     (c) Shall award attorneys' fees and costs.
     (3) A civil action under this section must be brought no later than three years after the violation occurred. This period is tolled during any period of time that the employer deters an individual from bringing an action under this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 18   RCW 39.12.100 (Independent contractors--Criteria) and 2009 c 63 s 1 are each repealed.

Wage Deductions

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 19   A new section is added to chapter 49.52 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) "Department," "employ," "employer," "front pay," "interested party," and "pattern or practice" mean the same as defined in section 3 of this act.
     (2) "Employee" means a person who performs services for an employer, but does not include a bona fide independent contractor. A person or entity may be an employee of two or more employers at the same time.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 20   A new section is added to chapter 49.52 RCW to read as follows:
     Section 4 of this act governs the determination of independent contractor status for purposes of this chapter.

Sec. 21   RCW 49.52.070 and 2010 c 8 s 12056 are each amended to read as follows:
     Any employer and any officer, vice principal or agent of any employer who shall violate any of the provisions of RCW 49.52.050 (1) and (2) shall be liable in a civil action by the aggrieved employee or his or her assignee to judgment for ((twice)) the amount of the wages unlawfully rebated or withheld plus twice that amount by way of exemplary damages, together with costs of suit and a reasonable sum for attorney's fees((: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That the benefits of this section shall not be available to any employee who has knowingly submitted to such violations)).

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 22   A new section is added to chapter 49.52 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) An employer may not discharge, threaten, penalize, or otherwise discriminate or retaliate against an employee because:
     (a) The employee made a complaint, or the employer believes the employee made a complaint, to the employer, the department, the attorney general, or any other person that the employer engaged in conduct that the employee reasonably believes violates this chapter;
     (b) The employee has caused to be instituted, or is about to cause to be instituted, a proceeding under or related to this chapter;
     (c) The employee has testified or is about to testify in a proceeding under or related to this chapter;
     (d) The employee has, or the employer believes the employee has, otherwise exercised rights protected by this chapter; or
     (e) The department has determined that the employer violated this chapter.
     (2) If an employer takes adverse action against an employee within ninety days of the employee having engaged in an activity described in subsection (1) of this section, the employer is presumed to have acted in retaliation. The employer may rebut this presumption with clear and convincing evidence that the adverse action was taken for a permissible purpose. For purposes of this subsection, "adverse action" includes discharging, threatening, penalizing, or otherwise discriminating against an employee.
     (3) A complaint or other communication by an employee triggers the protections of this section regardless of whether the complaint or communication is in writing or makes explicit reference to this chapter.
     (4) A violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 23   A new section is added to chapter 49.52 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) If, following an investigation, the department determines that an employer violated section 22 of this act, it may order the employer to:
     (a) Pay a civil penalty of not less than one thousand dollars and not more than ten thousand dollars per employee;
     (b) Pay any aggrieved employee the greater of: (i) Ten thousand dollars; or (ii) three times the amount of any wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation unlawfully denied or withheld; or
     (c) Reinstate the employee to his or her former position at not less than the most recent rate of compensation received by the employee, including the value of any benefits.
     (2) An employer may appeal an order issued under this section pursuant to RCW 49.48.084.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 24   A new section is added to chapter 49.52 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) An interested party or an individual aggrieved by a violation of section 22 of this act may bring suit on behalf of himself or herself or on behalf of any other individual who is similarly situated.      (2) If a court determines that an employer violated section 22 of this act, it:
     (a) Shall award the greater of:
     (i) Three times the amount of any wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation unlawfully denied or withheld; or
     (ii) Statutory damages for each employee aggrieved by the violation. Statutory damages may not exceed ten thousand dollars per employee, unless the employer engaged in a pattern or practice of violations, in which case the statutory damages must be not less than ten thousand dollars and not more than twenty-five thousand dollars per employee;
     (b) May award injunctive or other equitable relief, including reinstatement of the employee to his or her former position at not less than the most recent rate of compensation received by the employee, including the value of any benefits, or front pay in lieu of reinstatement; and
     (c) Shall award attorneys' fees and costs.
     (3) A civil action under this section must be brought no later than three years after the violation occurred. This period is tolled during any period of time that the employer deters an individual from bringing an action under this section.

Wage Payment Act

Sec. 25   RCW 49.48.082 and 2010 c 42 s 1 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     The definitions in this section apply throughout this section and RCW 49.48.083 through 49.48.086:
     (1) "Citation" means a written determination by the department that a wage payment requirement has been violated.
     (2) "Department" means the department of labor and industries.
     (3) "Determination of compliance" means a written determination by the department that wage payment requirements have not been violated.
     (4) "Director" means the director of the department of labor and industries, or the director's authorized representative.
     (5) "Employee" ((has the meaning provided in: (a) RCW 49.46.010 for purposes of a wage payment requirement set forth in RCW 49.46.020 or 49.46.130; and (b) RCW 49.12.005 for purposes of a wage payment requirement set forth in RCW 49.48.010, 49.52.050, or 49.52.060.
     (6) "Employer" has the meaning provided in RCW 49.46.010 for purposes of a wage payment requirement set forth in RCW 49.46.020, 49.46.130, 49.48.010, 49.52.050, or 49.52.060
)) means a person who performs services for an employer, but does not include a bona fide independent contractor. A person or entity may be an employee of two or more employers at the same time.
     (6) "Employ," "employer," "front pay," "interested party," and "pattern or practice" mean the same as defined in section 3 of this act
.
     (7) "Notice of assessment" means a written notice by the department that, based on a citation, the employer shall pay the amounts assessed under RCW 49.48.083.
     (8) "Repeat willful violator" means any employer that has been the subject of a final and binding citation and notice of assessment for a willful violation of a wage payment requirement within three years of the date of issue of the most recent citation and notice of assessment for a willful violation of a wage payment requirement.
     (9) "Successor" means any person to whom an employer quitting, selling out, exchanging, or disposing of a business sells or otherwise conveys in bulk and not in the ordinary course of the employer's business, more than fifty percent of the property, whether real or personal, tangible or intangible, of the employer's business.
     (10) "Wage" has the meaning provided in RCW 49.46.010.
     (11) "Wage complaint" means a complaint from an employee to the department that asserts that an employer has violated one or more wage payment requirements and that is reduced to writing.
     (12) "Wage payment requirement" means a wage payment requirement set forth in RCW 49.46.020, 49.46.130, 49.48.010, 49.52.050, or 49.52.060, and any related rules adopted by the department.
     (13) "Willful" means a knowing and intentional action that is neither accidental nor the result of a bona fide dispute, as evaluated under the standards applicable to wage payment violations under RCW 49.52.050(2).

Sec. 26   RCW 49.48.084 and 2010 c 42 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A person, firm, or corporation aggrieved by a citation and notice of assessment or a determination of compliance issued by the department under RCW 49.48.083 or sections 7, 16, 23, 30, or 36 of this act, or the assessment of civil penalty due to a determination of status as a repeat willful violator may appeal the citation and notice of assessment, the determination of compliance, or the assessment of civil penalty to the director by filing a notice of appeal with the director within thirty days of the department's issuance of the citation and notice of assessment, the determination of compliance, or the assessment of civil penalty. A citation and notice of assessment, a determination of compliance, or an assessment of a civil penalty not appealed within thirty days is final and binding, and not subject to further appeal.
     (2) A notice of appeal filed with the director under this section shall stay the effectiveness of the citation and notice of assessment, the determination of compliance, or the assessment of civil penalty pending final review of the appeal by the director as provided for in chapter 34.05 RCW.
     (3) Upon receipt of a notice of appeal, the director shall assign the hearing to an administrative law judge of the office of administrative hearings to conduct the hearing and issue an initial order. The hearing and review procedures shall be conducted in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW, and the standard of review by the administrative law judge of an appealed citation and notice of assessment, an appealed determination of compliance, or an appealed assessment of civil penalty shall be de novo. Any party who seeks to challenge an initial order shall file a petition for administrative review with the director within thirty days after service of the initial order. The director shall conduct administrative review in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW.
     (4) The director shall issue all final orders after appeal of the initial order. The final order of the director is subject to judicial review in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW.
     (5) Orders that are not appealed within the time period specified in this section and chapter 34.05 RCW are final and binding, and not subject to further appeal.
     (6) An employer who fails to allow adequate inspection of records in an investigation by the department under this chapter within a reasonable time period may not use such records in any appeal under this section to challenge the correctness of any determination by the department of wages owed or penalty assessed.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 27   A new section is added to chapter 49.48 RCW to read as follows:
     Section 4 of this act governs the determination of independent contractor status for purposes of this chapter.

Sec. 28   RCW 49.48.060 and 2010 c 42 s 5 and 2010 c 8 s 12050 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) If upon investigation by the director((, after taking assignments of any wage claim under RCW 49.48.040 or after receiving a wage complaint as defined in RCW 49.48.082 from an employee)), it appears to the director that ((the employer is representing to his or her employees that he or she is able to pay wages for their services and that the employees are not being paid for their services)) one or more employees was not paid for his or her services and that the employer continues to employ one or more employees, the director may require the employer to give a bond in such sum as the director deems reasonable and adequate in the circumstances, with sufficient surety, conditioned that the employer will for a definite future period not exceeding ((six months)) one year conduct his or her business and pay his or her employees in accordance with the laws of the state of Washington.
     (2) If within ten days after demand for such bond the employer fails to provide the same, the director ((may commence a suit against the employer in the superior court of appropriate jurisdiction to compel him or her to furnish such bond or cease doing business until he or she has done so. The employer shall have the burden of proving the amount thereof to be excessive.
     (3) If the court finds that there is just cause for requiring such bond and that the same is reasonable, necessary, or appropriate to secure the prompt payment of the wages of the employees of such employer and his or her compliance with one or more wage payment requirements as defined in RCW 49.48.082, the court shall enjoin such employer from doing business in this state until the requirement is met, or shall make other, and may make further, orders appropriate to compel compliance with the requirement.
     (4) Upon being informed of a wage claim against an employer or former employer, the director shall, if such claim appears to be just, immediately notify the employer or former employer, of such claim by mail. If the employer or former employer fails to pay the claim or make satisfactory explanation to the director of his or her failure to do so, within thirty days thereafter, the employer or former employer shall be liable to a penalty of ten percent of that portion of the claim found to be justly due. The director shall have a cause of action against the employer or former employer for the recovery of such penalty, and the same may be included in any subsequent action by the director on said wage claim, or may be exercised separately after adjustment of such wage claim without court action. This subsection does not apply to wage complaints made under RCW 49.48.083.
)) shall, by order issued under official seal, revoke the industrial insurance certificate of coverage of the employer from whom the bond was required. The employer shall post a copy of the order revoking its industrial insurance certificate of coverage in a conspicuous place at the main entrance to the employer's place of business. A copy of the order must remain posted until the bond has been paid. A certificate of coverage revoked under this section may not be reinstated and a new certificate of coverage may not be issued to the employer until the bond has been posted.
     (3) An employer may appeal an order issued under this section pursuant to RCW 49.48.084.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 29   A new section is added to chapter 49.48 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) An employer may not discharge, threaten, penalize, or otherwise discriminate or retaliate against an employee because:
     (a) The employee made a complaint, or the employer believes the employee made a complaint, to the employer, the department, the attorney general, or any other person that the employer engaged in conduct that the employee reasonably believes violates this chapter;
     (b) The employee has caused to be instituted, or is about to cause to be instituted, a proceeding under or related to this chapter;
     (c) The employee has testified or is about to testify in a proceeding under or related to this chapter;
     (d) The employee has, or the employer believes the employee has, otherwise exercised rights protected by this chapter; or
     (e) The department has determined that the employer violated this chapter.
     (2) If an employer takes adverse action against an employee within ninety days of the employee having engaged in an activity described in subsection (1) of this section, the employer is presumed to have acted in retaliation. The employer may rebut this presumption with clear and convincing evidence that the adverse action was taken for a permissible purpose. For purposes of this subsection, "adverse action" includes discharging, threatening, penalizing, or otherwise discriminating against an employee.
     (3) A complaint or other communication by an employee triggers the protections of this section regardless of whether the complaint or communication is in writing or makes explicit reference to this chapter.
     (4) A violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 30   A new section is added to chapter 49.48 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) If, following an investigation, the department determines that an employer violated section 29 of this act, it may order the employer to:
     (a) Pay a civil penalty of not less than one thousand dollars and not more than ten thousand dollars per employee; or
     (b) Pay any aggrieved employee the greater of:
     (i) Ten thousand dollars; or (ii) three times the amount of any wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation unlawfully denied or withheld; or
     (c) Reinstate the employee to his or her former position at not less than the most recent rate of compensation received by the employee, including the value of any benefits.
     (2) An employer may appeal an order issued under this section pursuant to RCW 49.48.084.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 31   A new section is added to chapter 49.48 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) An interested party or an individual aggrieved by a violation of section 29 of this act may bring suit on behalf of himself or herself or on behalf of any other individual who is similarly situated.
     (2) If a court determines that an employer violated section 29 of this act, it:
     (a) Shall award the greater of:
     (i) Three times the amount of any wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation unlawfully denied or withheld; or
     (ii) Statutory damages for each employee aggrieved by the violation. Statutory damages may not exceed ten thousand dollars per employee, unless the employer engaged in a pattern or practice of violations, in which case the statutory damages must be not less than ten thousand dollars and not more than twenty-five thousand dollars per employee;
     (b) May award injunctive or other equitable relief, including reinstatement of the employee to his or her former position at not less than the most recent rate of compensation received by the employee, including the value of any benefits, or front pay in lieu of reinstatement; and
     (c) Shall award attorneys' fees and costs.
     (3) A civil action under this section must be brought no later than three years after the violation occurred. This period is tolled during any period of time that the employer deters an individual from bringing an action under this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 32   A new section is added to chapter 49.48 RCW to read as follows:
     An interested party may bring complaints under this chapter.

Minimum Wage Act

Sec. 33   RCW 49.46.010 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 43 s 462 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     As used in this chapter:
     (1) "Director" means the director of labor and industries;
     (2) (("Employ" includes to permit to work)) "Department," "employ," "employer," "front pay," "interested party," and "pattern or practice" mean the same as defined in section 3 of this act;
     (3) "Employee" ((includes any individual employed by an employer but shall not include)) means any person or entity that an employer hires or suffers or permits to work. A person or entity may be an employee of two or more employers at the same time. "Employee" does not include a bona fide independent contractor or:
     (a) Any individual (i) employed as a hand harvest laborer and paid on a piece rate basis in an operation which has been, and is generally and customarily recognized as having been, paid on a piece rate basis in the region of employment; (ii) who commutes daily from his or her permanent residence to the farm on which he or she is employed; and (iii) who has been employed in agriculture less than thirteen weeks during the preceding calendar year;
     (b) Any individual employed in casual labor in or about a private home, unless performed in the course of the employer's trade, business, or profession;
     (c) Any individual employed in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity or in the capacity of outside salesperson as those terms are defined and delimited by rules of the director. However, those terms shall be defined and delimited by the human resources director pursuant to chapter 41.06 RCW for employees employed under the director of personnel's jurisdiction;
     (d) Any individual engaged in the activities of an educational, charitable, religious, state or local governmental body or agency, or nonprofit organization where the employer-employee relationship does not in fact exist or where the services are rendered to such organizations gratuitously. If the individual receives reimbursement in lieu of compensation for normally incurred out-of-pocket expenses or receives a nominal amount of compensation per unit of voluntary service rendered, an employer-employee relationship is deemed not to exist for the purpose of this section or for purposes of membership or qualification in any state, local government, or publicly supported retirement system other than that provided under chapter 41.24 RCW;
     (e) Any individual employed full time by any state or local governmental body or agency who provides voluntary services but only with regard to the provision of the voluntary services. The voluntary services and any compensation therefor shall not affect or add to qualification, entitlement, or benefit rights under any state, local government, or publicly supported retirement system other than that provided under chapter 41.24 RCW;
     (f) Any newspaper vendor or carrier;
     (g) Any carrier subject to regulation by Part 1 of the Interstate Commerce Act;
     (h) Any individual engaged in forest protection and fire prevention activities;
     (i) Any individual employed by any charitable institution charged with child care responsibilities engaged primarily in the development of character or citizenship or promoting health or physical fitness or providing or sponsoring recreational opportunities or facilities for young people or members of the armed forces of the United States;
     (j) Any individual whose duties require that he or she reside or sleep at the place of his or her employment or who otherwise spends a substantial portion of his or her work time subject to call, and not engaged in the performance of active duties;
     (k) Any resident, inmate, or patient of a state, county, or municipal correctional, detention, treatment or rehabilitative institution;
     (l) Any individual who holds a public elective or appointive office of the state, any county, city, town, municipal corporation or quasi municipal corporation, political subdivision, or any instrumentality thereof, or any employee of the state legislature;
     (m) All vessel operating crews of the Washington state ferries operated by the department of transportation;
     (n) Any individual employed as a seaman on a vessel other than an American vessel;
     (4) (("Employer" includes any individual, partnership, association, corporation, business trust, or any person or group of persons acting directly or indirectly in the interest of an employer in relation to an employee;
     (5)
)) "Occupation" means any occupation, service, trade, business, industry, or branch or group of industries or employment or class of employment in which employees are gainfully employed;
     (((6))) (5) "Retail or service establishment" means an establishment seventy-five percent of whose annual dollar volume of sales of goods or services, or both, is not for resale and is recognized as retail sales or services in the particular industry;
     (((7))) (6) "Wage" means compensation due to an employee by reason of employment, payable in legal tender of the United States or checks on banks convertible into cash on demand at full face value, subject to such deductions, charges, or allowances as may be permitted by rules of the director.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 34   A new section is added to chapter 49.46 RCW to read as follows:
     Section 4 of this act governs the determination of independent contractor status for purposes of this chapter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 35   A new section is added to chapter 49.46 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) An employer may not discharge, threaten, penalize, or otherwise discriminate or retaliate against an employee because:
     (a) The employee made a complaint, or the employer believes the employee made a complaint, to the employer, the department, the attorney general, or any other person that the employer engaged in conduct that the employee reasonably believes violates this chapter;
     (b) The employee has caused to be instituted, or is about to cause to be instituted, a proceeding under or related to this chapter;
     (c) The employee has testified or is about to testify in a proceeding under or related to this chapter;
     (d) The employee has, or the employer believes the employee has, otherwise exercised rights protected by this chapter; or
     (e) The department has determined that the employer violated this chapter.
     (2) If an employer takes adverse action against an employee within ninety days of the employee having engaged in an activity described in subsection (1) of this section, the employer is presumed to have acted in retaliation. The employer may rebut this presumption with clear and convincing evidence that the adverse action was taken for a permissible purpose. For purposes of this subsection, "adverse action" includes discharging, threatening, penalizing, or otherwise discriminating against an employee.
     (3) A complaint or other communication by an employee triggers the protections of this section regardless of whether the complaint or communication is in writing or makes explicit reference to this chapter.
     (4) A violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 36   A new section is added to chapter 49.46 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) If, following an investigation, the department determines that an employer violated section 35 of this act, it may order the employer to:
     (a) Pay a civil penalty of not less than one thousand dollars and not more than ten thousand dollars per employee;
     (b) Pay any aggrieved employee the greater of: (i) Ten thousand dollars; or (ii) three times the amount of any wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation unlawfully denied or withheld; or
     (c) Reinstate the employee to his or her former position at not less than the most recent rate of compensation received by the employee, including the value of any benefits.
     (2) An employer may appeal an order issued under this section pursuant to RCW 49.48.084.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 37   A new section is added to chapter 49.46 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) An interested party or an individual aggrieved by a violation of section 35 of this act may bring suit on behalf of himself or herself or on behalf of any other individual who is similarly situated.
     (2) If a court determines that an employer violated section 35 of this act, it:
     (a) Shall award the greater of:
     (i) Three times the amount of any wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation unlawfully denied or withheld; or
     (ii) Statutory damages for each employee aggrieved by the violation. Statutory damages may not exceed ten thousand dollars per employee, unless the employer engaged in a pattern or practice of violations, in which case the statutory damages must be not less than ten thousand dollars and not more than twenty-five thousand dollars per employee;
     (b) May award injunctive or other equitable relief, including reinstatement of the employee to his or her former position at not less than the most recent rate of compensation received by the employee, including the value of any benefits, or front pay in lieu of reinstatement; and
     (c) Shall award attorneys' fees and costs.
     (3) A civil action under this section must be brought no later than three years after the violation occurred. This period is tolled during any period of time that the employer deters an individual from bringing an action under this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 38   RCW 49.46.100 (Prohibited acts of employer--Penalty) and 2010 c 8 s 12044 & 1959 c 294 s 10 are each repealed.

Unemployment Compensation

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 39   A new section is added to chapter 50.04 RCW to read as follows:
     Section 4 of this act governs the determination of independent contractor status for purposes of this chapter. The services of an independent contractor are not services in employment subject to this title.

Sec. 40   RCW 50.12.070 and 2009 c 432 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1)(a) Each employing unit shall keep true and accurate work records, containing such information as the commissioner may prescribe. Such records shall be open to inspection and be subject to being copied by the commissioner or his or her authorized representatives at any reasonable time and as often as may be necessary. The commissioner may require from any employing unit any sworn or unsworn reports with respect to persons employed by it, which he or she deems necessary for the effective administration of this title.
     (b) An employer who contracts with another person or entity for work subject to chapter 18.27 or 19.28 RCW shall obtain and preserve a record of the unified business identifier account number for and compensation paid to the person or entity performing the work. In addition to the penalty in subsection (3) of this section, failure to obtain or maintain the record is subject to RCW 39.06.010.
     (2)(a) Each employer shall register with the department and obtain an employment security account number. Registration must include the names and social security numbers of the owners, partners, members, or corporate officers of the business, as well as their mailing addresses and telephone numbers and other information the commissioner may by rule prescribe. Registration of corporations must also include the percentage of stock ownership for each corporate officer, delineated by zero percent, less than ten percent, or ten percent or more. Any changes in the owners, partners, members, or corporate officers of the business, and changes in percentage of ownership of the outstanding shares of stock of the corporation, must be reported to the department at intervals prescribed by the commissioner under (b) of this subsection.
     (b) Each employer shall make periodic reports at such intervals as the commissioner may by regulation prescribe, setting forth the remuneration paid for employment to workers in its employ, the full names and social security numbers of all such workers, and the total hours worked by each worker and such other information as the commissioner may by regulation prescribe.
     (c) If the employing unit fails or has failed to report the number of hours in a reporting period for which a worker worked, such number will be computed by the commissioner and given the same force and effect as if it had been reported by the employing unit. In computing the number of such hours worked, the total wages for the reporting period, as reported by the employing unit, shall be divided by the dollar amount of the state's minimum wage in effect for such reporting period and the quotient, disregarding any remainder, shall be credited to the worker: PROVIDED, That although the computation so made will not be subject to appeal by the employing unit, monetary entitlement may be redetermined upon request if the department is provided with credible evidence of the actual hours worked. Benefits paid using computed hours are not considered an overpayment and are not subject to collections when the correction of computed hours results in an invalid or reduced claim; however:
     (i) A contribution paying employer who fails to report the number of hours worked will have its experience rating account charged for all benefits paid that are based on hours computed under this subsection; and
     (ii) An employer who reimburses the trust fund for benefits paid to workers and fails to report the number of hours worked shall reimburse the trust fund for all benefits paid that are based on hours computed under this subsection.
     (3) Any employer who fails to keep and preserve records required by this section shall be subject to a penalty determined by the commissioner but not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars or two hundred percent of the quarterly tax for each offense, whichever is greater.
     (4) Upon referral from the department of labor and industries pursuant to section 7 of this act, the employment security department may initiate procedures for improper recordkeeping and the recovery of contributions, interest, and penalties.

Sec. 41   RCW 50.12.072 and 2010 c 72 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) An employer that knowingly fails to register with the department and obtain an employment security account number, as required under RCW 50.12.070(2), is subject to a penalty not to exceed one thousand dollars per quarter or two times the taxes due per quarter, whichever is greater. This penalty is in addition to all other penalties and is in addition to higher rates for employers that do not meet the definition of "qualified employer" under RCW 50.29.010. This penalty does not apply if the employer can prove that it had good cause to believe that it was not required to register with the department.
     (2) Upon referral from the department of labor and industries pursuant to section 7 of this act, the employment security department may initiate procedures for improper recordkeeping and the recovery of contributions, interest, and penalties.

Sec. 42   RCW 50.24.070 and 2011 c 301 s 18 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) At any time after the commissioner shall find that any contributions, interest, or penalties have become delinquent, the commissioner may issue an order and notice of assessment specifying the amount due, which order and notice of assessment shall be served upon the delinquent employer in the manner prescribed for the service of a summons in a civil action, or using a method by which the mailing can be tracked or the delivery can be confirmed. Failure of the employer to receive such notice or order whether served or mailed shall not release the employer from any tax, or any interest or penalties thereon.
     (2) The commissioner shall accept referrals based on a court finding of a violation of section 5 of this act and may pursue a claim for contributions.

Sec. 43   RCW 50.04.100 and 1982 1st ex.s. c 18 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:
     "Employment", subject only to the other provisions of this title, means personal service, of whatever nature, unlimited by the relationship of master and servant as known to the common law or any other legal relationship, including service in interstate commerce, performed for wages or under any contract calling for the performance of personal services, written or oral, express or implied.
     ((Except as provided by RCW 50.04.145,)) Personal services performed for an employing unit by one or more contractors or subcontractors acting individually or as a partnership, which do not meet the provisions of ((RCW 50.04.140)) section 39 of this act, shall be considered employment of the employing unit: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That such contractor or subcontractor shall be an employer under the provisions of this title in respect to personal services performed by individuals for such contractor or subcontractor.

Sec. 44   RCW 50.04.298 and 2007 c 146 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
     For the purposes of this title:
     (1) "Professional employer organization" means a person or entity that enters into an agreement with one or more client employers to provide professional employer services. "Professional employer organization" includes entities that use the term "staff leasing company," "permanent leasing company," "registered staff leasing company," "employee leasing company," "administrative employer," or any other name, when they provide professional employer services to client employers. The following are not classified as professional employer organizations: Independent contractors in ((RCW 50.04.140)) section 39 of this act; temporary staffing services companies and services referral agencies as defined in RCW 50.04.245; third-party payers as defined in RCW 50.04.248; or labor organizations.
     (2) "Client employer" means any employer who enters into a professional employer agreement with a professional employer organization.
     (3) "Coemployer" means either a professional employer organization or a client employer that has entered into a professional employer agreement.
     (4) "Covered employee" means an individual performing services for a client employer that constitutes employment under this title.
     (5) "Professional employer services" means services provided by the professional employer organization to the client employer, which include, but are not limited to, human resource functions, risk management, or payroll administration services, in a coemployment relationship.
     (6) "Coemployment relationship" means a relationship that is intended to be ongoing rather than temporary or project-specific, where the rights, duties, and obligations of an employer in an employment relationship are allocated between coemployers pursuant to a professional employer agreement and state law. A coemployment relationship exists only if a majority of the employees performing services to a client employer, or to a division or work unit of a client employer, are covered employees. In determining the allocation of rights and obligations in a coemployment relationship:
     (a) The professional employer organization has only those employer rights and is subject only to those obligations specifically allocated to it by the professional employer agreement or state law;
     (b) The client employer has those rights and obligations allocated to it by the professional employer agreement or state law, as well as any other right or obligation of an employer that is not specifically allocated by the professional employer agreement or state law.
     (7) "Professional employer agreement" means a written contract between a client employer and a professional employer organization that provides for: (a) The coemployment of covered employees; and (b) the allocation of employer rights and obligations between the client and the professional employer organization with respect to the covered employees.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 45   The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:
     (1) RCW 50.04.140 (Employment -- Exception tests) and 1991 c 246 s 6 & 1945 c 35 s 15; and
     (2) RCW 50.04.145 (Employment -- Exclusions) and 2008 c 102 s 1, 1983 1st ex.s. c 23 s 25, & 1982 1st ex.s. c 18 s 13.

Industrial Insurance

Sec. 46   RCW 51.08.070 and 2008 c 102 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     "Employer" means any person, body of persons, corporate or otherwise, and the legal representatives of a deceased employer, all while engaged in this state in any work covered by the provisions of this title, by way of trade or business, or who contracts with one or more workers, the essence of which is the personal labor of such worker or workers. Or as an exception to the definition of employer, persons or entities are not employers when they contract or agree to remunerate the services performed by an ((individual who meets the tests set forth in subsections (1) through (6) of RCW 51.08.195 or the separate tests set forth in RCW 51.08.181 for work performed that requires registration under chapter 18.27 RCW or licensing under chapter 19.28 RCW)) independent contractor, as defined in section 4 of this act.

Sec. 47   RCW 51.08.180 and 2008 c 102 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     "Worker" means every person in this state who is engaged in the employment of an employer under this title, whether by way of manual labor or otherwise in the course of his or her employment; also every person in this state who is engaged in the employment of or who is working under an independent contract, the essence of which is his or her personal labor for an employer under this title, whether by way of manual labor or otherwise, in the course of his or her employment, or as an exception to the definition of worker, a person is not a worker if he or she meets the ((tests)) test set forth in ((subsections (1) through (6) of RCW 51.08.195 or the separate tests set forth in RCW 51.08.181 for work performed that requires registration under chapter 18.27 RCW or licensing under chapter 19.28 RCW)) section 4 of this act: PROVIDED, That a person is not a worker for the purpose of this title, with respect to his or her activities attendant to operating a truck which he or she owns, and which is leased to a common or contract carrier.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 48   The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:
     (1) RCW 51.08.181 ("Worker"--Registered contractor and electrician exclusions) and 2008 c 102 s 5; and
     (2) RCW 51.08.195 ("Employer" and "worker" -- Additional exception) and 2008 c 102 s 4 & 1991 c 246 s 1.

Liens for Wage Claims

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 49   The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Department" means the department of labor and industries.
     (2) "Employ" and "employer" mean the same as defined in section 3 of this act.
     (3) "Employee" means a person who performs services for an employer, but does not include a bona fide independent contractor. A person or entity may be an employee of two or more employers at the same time.
     (4) "Improvement" means all property upon which the employee has performed work or furnished materials at the instance of the owner or of any person acting by the owner's authority or under the owner as a contractor or otherwise. "Improvement" does not include an improvement that is subject to a lien under chapter 60.04 RCW or would be subject to a lien under chapter 60.04 RCW if filed during the period of limitation established by RCW 60.04.141.
     (5) "Party in interest" means a person who stands to gain or lose by the operation of the lien. "Party in interest" includes but is not limited to a purchaser of the property and a financial institution with a security interest in the property.
     (6) "Wage claim" means the amount of wages owed to an employee, as well as any statutory penalties that may be owed for violation of a state or federal wage law, including but not limited to chapters 39.12, 49.12, 49.46, 49.48, 49.52, and 49.-- RCW (the new chapter created in section 61 of this act), and the fair labor standards act, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 201 et seq.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 50   Section 4 of this act governs the determination of independent contractor status for purposes of this chapter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 51   (1) An employee has a lien for wage claims on: (a) Any real or personal property in this state that is owned by the employee's employer; and (b) improvements in this state.
     (2) Chapter 62A.9A RCW of the uniform commercial code does not apply to a lien on the personal property of an employer under this chapter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 52   (1) To establish a lien on real property or improvements, the lien claimant must:
     (a) File for recording a notice of claim of lien in the county where the property is located. The notice must:
     (i) State the name, telephone number, and address of the lien claimant, and if the lien has been assigned, the name of the assignee;
     (ii) State the name of the employer;
     (iii) State the street address, legal description, or other description reasonably calculated to identify, for a person familiar with the area, the location of the real property or the nature of the improvements to be charged with the lien;
     (iv) State the principal amount for which the lien is claimed;
     (v) Be signed by the lien claimant or a person authorized to act on his or her behalf;
     (vi) Affirmatively state that the lien claimant or person authorized to act on his or her behalf has read the notice of claim of lien and believes it to be true and correct under penalty of perjury; and
     (vii) Be acknowledged and certified as set forth in subsection (3) of this section;
     (b) Pay a filing fee established by the county auditor; and
     (c) Mail a copy of the notice filed under this subsection (1) to the employer's registered agent, the employer's registered business address, or the address where the employer resides, by certified mail with return receipt requested.
     (2) To establish a lien on personal property, the lien claimant must:     
     (a) File for recording a notice of claim of lien with the department of licensing. The notice must:
     (i) State the name, phone number, and address of the lien claimant, and if the lien has been assigned, the name of the assignee;
     (ii) State the name of the employer;
     (iii) Describe the personal property subject to the lien or indicate that the lien covers all personal property;
     (iv) State the principal amount for which the lien is claimed;
     (v) Be signed by the lien claimant or a person authorized to act on his or her behalf;
     (vi) Affirmatively state that the lien claimant or person authorized to act on his or her behalf has read the notice of claim of lien and believes it to be true and correct under penalty of perjury; and
     (vii) Be acknowledged and certified as set forth in subsection (3) of this section;
     (b) Pay a filing fee established by the department of licensing; and
     (c) Mail a copy of the notice filed under this subsection (2) to the employer's registered agent, the employer's registered business address, or the address where the employer resides, by certified mail with return receipt requested.
     (3) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2) of this section, a claim of lien, acknowledgment, and certificate substantially in the following form shall be sufficient:


CLAIM OF LIEN


. . . . . ., claimant, vs . . . . . ., name of person indebted to claimant:


Notice is hereby given that the claimant named below asserts a lien pursuant to chapter 60.-- RCW (the new chapter created in section 62 of this act). In support of this lien the following information is submitted:


1. NAME OF LIEN CLAIMANT: . . . . . . . . . . . .

TELEPHONE NUMBER: . . . . . . . . . . . .

ADDRESS: . . . . . . . . . . . .


2. NAME OF EMPLOYER: . . . . . . . . . . . .


3. DESCRIPTION OF THE REAL PROPERTY, PERSONAL PROPERTY, OR IMPROVEMENTS AGAINST WHICH A LIEN IS CLAIMED (Street address, legal description, or other information that will reasonably describe the property, or statement that the lien covers all personal property):
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . .


4. PRINCIPAL AMOUNT FOR WHICH THE LIEN IS CLAIMED IS:

. . . . . . . . . . . .


5. IF THE CLAIMANT IS THE ASSIGNEE OF THIS CLAIM SO STATE HERE: . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . .


6. IF THE PERSON SIGNING THIS CLAIM OF LIEN IS NOT THE CLAIMANT, BUT IS AUTHORIZED TO ACT ON THE CLAIMANT'S BEHALF, STATE THE PERSON'S NAME AND REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY:


NAME: . . . . . . . . . . . .


REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY (e.g., officer or employee of claimant; attorney or agent; representative of lien filing service; administrator, representative, or agent of trustees of employee benefit plan): . . . . . . . . . . . .



ACKNOWLEDGMENT



FOR AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT IN AN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY:
STATE OF WASHINGTON, COUNTY OF
. . . . . ., ss.
. . . . . ., being sworn, says: I, ...(name of person)..., am the claimant. I have read the foregoing claim of lien, believe the claim of lien to be true and correct under penalty of perjury, and believe the claim of lien is not frivolous, is made with reasonable cause, and is not clearly excessive. The foregoing claim of lien is my free and voluntary act for the uses and purposes stated therein.

. . . . . .Dated: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . (Signature)

FOR AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT IN A REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY:

STATE OF WASHINGTON, COUNTY OF
. . . . . ., ss.
. . . . . ., being sworn, says: I, ...(name of person)..., am authorized to act on behalf of the claimant. I have read the foregoing claim of lien, believe the claim of lien to be true and correct under penalty of perjury, and believe the claim of lien is not frivolous, is made with reasonable cause, and is not clearly excessive. The foregoing claim of lien is the free and voluntary act of the claimant for the uses and purposes stated therein.

. . . . . .Dated: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . (Signature)


CERTIFICATE


FOR A CERTIFICATE OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT IN AN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY:

     I certify that I know or have satisfactory evidence that . . . (name of person) . . . is the person who appeared before me, and said person acknowledged that he/she signed this instrument and acknowledged it to be his/her free and voluntary act for the uses and purposes mentioned in the instrument.

. . . . . .Dated: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . (Signature)

(Seal or stamp)



. . . . . . . Title . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . My appointment . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . Expires . . . . . . . . . . . .

FOR A CERTIFICATE OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT IN A REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY:

     I certify that I know or have satisfactory evidence that . . . (name of person) . . . is the person who appeared before me, and said person acknowledged that he/she signed this instrument, on oath stated that he/she was authorized to execute the instrument and acknowledged it as the . . . (type of authority, e.g., officer or employee, etc.) . . . of . . . (name of party on behalf of whom instrument was executed) . . . to be the free and voluntary act of such party for the uses and purposes mentioned in the instrument.

. . . . . .Dated: . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . (Signature)


(Seal or Stamp)



. . . . . . Title . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . My appointment . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . Expires . . . . . . . . . . . .

     (4)(a) For a notice of claim of lien on real property or improvements filed under subsection (1) of this section, the county auditor shall record the notice in the same manner as deeds and other instruments of title are recorded under chapter 65.08 RCW. Notices of claim of lien for registered land need not be recorded in the Torrens register.
     (b) For a notice of claim of lien on personal property filed under subsection (2) of this section, the department of licensing shall record the notice in the same manner as filings accepted pursuant to chapter 62A.9A RCW.
     (5) The notice of claim of lien may be filed at any time prior to the expiration of the statute of limitations for an action to recover the wages that are the subject of the lien.
     (6) Mistakes or errors in the claimed amount owed do not invalidate the lien unless made with the intent to defraud.
     (7) A lien under this chapter continues in all identifiable cash proceeds of the property subject to the lien.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 53   Any lien or right of lien created by this chapter and the right of action to recover the lien is assignable so as to vest in the assignee all rights and remedies of the assignor, subject to all defenses thereto that might be made.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 54   (1) An action to foreclose the lien must be filed within one year of the date the lien was recorded.
     (2)(a) A lien may be foreclosed by an action in: (i) The superior court in the county in which the real property or improvements are located; (ii) the district court in the county in which the personal property is located if the value of the claim does not exceed the jurisdictional limit of the court provided in RCW 3.66.020; or (iii) the superior court in the county in which the personal property is located if the value of the claim exceeds the jurisdictional limit of the district court provided in RCW 3.66.020.
     (b) If the lien claimant has instituted an action for the wage claim that is the subject of the lien, that action must also be deemed an action to foreclose on the lien.
     (3) A foreclosure action or an action for a wage claim may be brought by the employee individually, the department, the United States department of labor, the office of the attorney general, or a representative of the employee, including a collective bargaining representative or class representative. Multiple wage claims against the same employer may be joined in a single proceeding, but the court may order separate trials or hearings.
     (4) If the employee pursues the wage claim in an administrative proceeding before the department, a final and binding citation issued by the department establishes the amount of wages and penalties owed for the purpose of foreclosure under this chapter.
     (5) In the judgment resulting from such a foreclosure action, the court may order the sale at sheriff's auction or the transfer to the plaintiff of title or possession of any property subject to the lien. Whether or not the court makes such an order as part of the judgment, a writ of sale may be issued for any property subject to the lien for ten years after a judgment for a wage claim is issued. A lien based on an underlying judgment continues in force for an additional ten-year period if the period of execution for the underlying judgment is extended under RCW 6.17.020. A lien claimant who prevails in a foreclosure action is entitled to costs and reasonable attorneys' fees.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 55   (1) A lien is extinguished:
     (a) If an action for the underlying wage claim is not brought within one year of the filing of the lien;
     (b) If the action for the underlying wage claim is dismissed with prejudice and no appeal is filed within the applicable appeals period. If an appeal is filed, the lien continues in force until final judgment is rendered; or
     (c) Upon payment and acceptance of the amount due to the lien claimant.
     (2) If the lien is extinguished, upon demand and fifteen days' written notice by the property owner, the lien claimant shall file a release of lien at the place the lien was recorded and provide a copy of the release of lien to the property owner. If the lien claimant fails to release the lien as provided in this section, the property owner has a private right of action against the lien claimant for injunctive relief, costs, and reasonable attorneys' fees.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 56   (1) Except for child support income withholding, which has priority, and except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, a lien recorded under this chapter takes priority over all other debts, judgments, decrees, liens, security interests, or mortgages against the employer, regardless as to whether these debts, judgments, decrees, liens, security interests, or mortgages originated before or after the wage lien, and regardless of whether these debts, judgments, decrees, liens, or mortgages were perfected prior to the wage lien. A wage lien is effective against the estate of the employer. A wage lien is not effective against a subsequent bona fide purchaser of the property subject to the lien.
     (2) If more than one statutory lien for wages owed is filed, including but not limited to liens under this chapter and chapters 60.04, 60.11, 60.16, 60.24, 60.28, 60.34, and 60.76 RCW, priority is based on the order in which the liens are filed, with the earlier-filed liens taking priority over the later-filed liens.
     (3) A lien recorded under this chapter is subordinate to a lien for taxes that the department of revenue is authorized or required to collect and that originates before a lien recorded under this chapter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 57   (1)(a) An employer subject to a lien under this chapter or a party in interest may file a bond issued by a surety company authorized to issue surety bonds in the state. Recording a bond releases the real property, personal property, or improvements described in the notice of claim of lien from the lien and any action brought to recover the amount claimed.
     (b) The bond must be recorded at the place the lien was recorded. The bond must: (i) Contain a description of the claim of lien and real property, personal property, or improvements involved; and (ii) be in an amount no less than one thousand dollars or one and one-half times the amount of the lien, whichever is greater.
     (c) The condition of the bond must be to guarantee payment of any judgment on the lien in favor of the lien claimant that is entered in an action for a wage claim or a foreclosure action.
     (d) If no action is commenced to recover on a lien within one year of the filing of the lien, the surety is discharged from liability under the bond. If an action is timely commenced, then on payment of any judgment entered in the action or on payment of the full amount of the bond to the holder of the judgment, whichever is less, the surety is discharged from liability under the bond.
     (2) In lieu of the surety bond provided for in subsection (1) of this section, an employer subject to a lien under this chapter or a party in interest may deposit with the treasurer of the county in which the claim of lien is filed or with the department of licensing, as applicable, an amount equal to the greater of one thousand dollars or one and one-half times the amount claimed under the lien.
     (3) A person entitled to post a bond under subsection (1) of this section or to deposit an amount under subsection (2) of this section may provide to the lien claimant a written notice of the filing of the bond or deposit. The notice must include a demand that the lien be released or foreclosed and state that if the lien is not released or foreclosed, the person may recover the actual costs the person incurred in complying with this section or five hundred dollars, whichever is greater. The written notice and demand must be delivered to the lien claimant by certified mail with return receipt requested.
     (4)(a) A lien claimant who is served with a written notice and demand in compliance with subsection (3) of this section is liable to the person who filed the bond or made the deposit if the lien claimant does not release or bring an action to foreclose the lien within fifteen days after receiving the written notice and demand.
     (b) The amount of the lien claimant's liability under this subsection (4) is the amount of the costs the person who filed the bond or made the deposit incurred in complying with this section, or five hundred dollars, whichever is greater.
     (5) If a lien claimant who is served with a written notice and demand under subsection (3) of this section prevails in the action to release or foreclose the lien, then in addition to other costs and attorney fees to which the lien claimant is entitled, the court shall award the lien claimant five hundred dollars or the lien claimant's actual costs incurred in addressing the written notice and demand, whichever is greater.
     (6) If a lien claimant establishes the validity of the underlying wage claim in an action to enforce the lien, the lien claimant is entitled to judgment against the surety upon the bond or against the money deposited.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 58   A contract between an employer and employee may not waive or require an employee to waive the right to a lien under this chapter. A provision of a contract made in violation of this section is void as against the public policy of this state.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 59   The claim of lien, when filed as required by this chapter, shall be notice to the spouse or the domestic partner of the person who appears on record to be the owner of the property sought to be charged with the lien, and shall subject all the community interest of both spouses or both domestic partners to the lien.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 60   This chapter is to be liberally construed to provide security for all parties intended to be protected by its provisions.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 61   Sections 2 through 11 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 49 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 62   Sections 49 through 60 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 60 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 63   If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 64   If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state or the eligibility of employers in this state for federal unemployment tax credits, the conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict, and the finding or determination does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act. Rules adopted under this act must meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state or the granting of federal unemployment tax credits to employers in this state.

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