5510.E AMH LAB ELGE 060

ESB 5510 - H COMM AMD

By Committee on Labor

ADOPTED 04/13/2015

    Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The department of labor and industries shall convene, no later than August 1, 2015, a benefit accuracy working group under the industrial insurance program. The director must appoint members to the working group as follows: Two members representing labor, two members representing employers, and at least two members representing the department of labor and industries. Members must serve without compensation but are entitled to travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. All expenses of this working group must be paid by the department. The working group must focus on improving the accuracy, simplicity, fairness, and consistency of calculating and providing wage replacement benefits and shall not consider overall reductions in existing worker benefit levels. The working group must report back to the appropriate committees of the legislature by February 1, 2016, and September 1, 2016.  This section expires December 31, 2016."

EFFECT: Strikes language directing the working group to develop recommendations to improve the calculation of wages.  Retains the working group report to the appropriate legislative committees by February 1 and September 1, 2016, but changes the requirement to a "report back" without a requirement for a final report that includes any legislative proposals. Provides that the working group expires on December 31, 2016.  Makes housekeeping changes to use standard language.

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