On page 2, line 14, after "(b)" strike all of the material through "area." on line 16 and insert "The worker is being paid at least a rate commensurate with the wages typically paid for the occupation in the applicable geographic area, subject to the following provisions:

(i) The prevailing wage rate paid for a worker in the applicable occupation and geographic area on public works projects may be used to determine the appropriate rate of pay, however, this subsection (7)(b) does not require a contractor to pay prevailing wage rates; and

(ii) In no case may the worker be paid at a rate less than an hourly rate consistent with the seventy-fifth percentile in the applicable occupation and geographic area in the most recent occupational employment statistics published by the employment security department."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) Failure to comply with the skilled and trained workforce requirements of this chapter, except the requirement that a worker be paid at a rate commensurate with wages typically paid for the occupation, constitutes a violation of chapter 49.17 RCW.

(2) The wage rate requirement of section 1(7)(b) of this act constitutes a wage payment requirement as defined in RCW 49.48.082."

EFFECT: Requires skilled journeypersons be paid at a rate commensurate with the wages typically paid for the occupation in the applicable geographic area rather than the prevailing hourly wage rate. Provides that the prevailing hourly wage rate may be used to determine the appropriate rate of pay, but that a contractor is not required to pay the prevailing hourly wage rate. Provides that a worker may not be paid at a rate less than an hourly rate consistent with the seventy-fifth percentile in the applicable occupation and geographic area in the most recent occupational employment statistics published by the employment security department.