SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6014

BYSenators Wojahn, Rasmussen and DeJarnatt

Prohibiting newspaper publishers from using newspaper carriers to collect from subscribers.

Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 2, 1987

Senate Staff:Bill Lynch (786-7427)

AS OF MARCH 2, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Newspaper carriers risk the threat of being robbed of the money they collect from newspaper subscribers because the carriers are usually in their early teenage years.  In addition, newspaper carriers usually must absorb the loss if a subscriber does not pay for the newspaper.

It is suggested that the potential risk of harm to newspaper carriers would be greatly reduced if the newspaper publishers were responsible for billing and collecting from the subscribers.  Likewise, it is suggested that the risk of loss for nonpayment by the subscribers should be on the newspaper publishers rather than the newspaper carriers.

SUMMARY:

Newspaper carriers shall not be responsible for collecting money from newspaper subscribers.  Newspaper publishers are directed to bill their subscribers and pay the carriers for their services.  A newspaper publisher is prohibited from deducting money that is not collected from the pay of newspaper carriers.

Fiscal Note:      none requested