HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 1711

As Amended by the Senate

BYHouse Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Cole, R. King, Winsley, Jacobsen, Wood, Wang, Patrick, Anderson, Wineberry, Walker and Todd)

Creating a crime prevention employee training program for businesses during late night hours.

House Committe on Commerce & Labor

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Vekich, Chair; Cole, Vice Chair; Patrick, Ranking Republican Member; Jones, R. King, Leonard, O'Brien, Prentice, Smith, Walker and Wolfe.

House Staff:Chris Cordes (786-7117)

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Majority Report:  The substitute bill by Committee on Commerce & Labor be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (26)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; H. Sommers, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Republican Member; Appelwick, Belcher, Bowman, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Brough, Dorn, Ebersole, Hine, May, McLean, Nealey, Padden, Peery, Rust, Sayan , Spanel, Sprenkle, Valle, Wang and Wineberry.

House Staff:      Dave Knutson (786-7136)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 14, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Many convenience stores and other businesses remain open 24 hours per day.  Training in robbery prevention and other safety precautions are not required by state law.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor and Industries is directed to establish training standards and certify training programs for employees who work in retail establishments between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m..  Employees must complete the training course within 90 days of beginning work.  The training program is limited to (1) providing a training manual and (2) attending a seminar or viewing a training video.

Late night retail establishments must post a conspicuous sign which states that the safe on the premises is not accessible to the employees and (2) that the cash register contains $50 dollars or less.  The establishment must also have a drop-safe or comparable device, provide a clear view of the cash register from the street and provide night lighting for parking areas.

A first violation of the training requirements is subject to a written citation.  A first repeat violation is subject to a civil penalty of $100 and subsequent repeat violations are subject to a civil penalty of $500.

Compliance with the crime prevention training program requirements is the sole responsibility of the employer.  "Employer" is defined as the operator, lessee, or franchisee of the late night retail establishment.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENTS:  The crime prevention training program is modified.  The requirement is deleted that training must be provided within 90 days of beginning work.  The required training manual and video must be developed by the Department of Labor and Industries and distributed to employers, or employers may use a manual and video certified by the department.  Penalties are changed to provide for enforcement procedures under the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act.  Employers are not subject to penalties if the cash register contains money in excess of the minimal requirements needed to conduct business or if the employer provides the training manual and notifies the employees in writing of the date of the training video.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 27, 1989.

Effective Date:The bill takes effect January 1, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Commerce & Labor) Representative Grace Cole, Prime Sponsor; Joe Daniels, United Food and Commercial Workers; Kathleen Durkan, Southland Corporation; and Chuck Helget, ARCO (with concerns).

NEUTRAL:  Sam Clarke, Department of Labor and Industries.

(Appropriations) Joe Daniels UFCW District Council 17.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Commerce & Labor) None Presented.

(Appropriations) None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Commerce & Labor) Retail stores open 24 hours per day are increasingly the target of robberies.  Training in crime prevention and other preventive measures are needed to provide a safer working environment for employees.

(Appropriations) This legislation will protect employees who work in late night retail establishments.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Commerce & Labor) None Presented.

(Appropriations) None Presented.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 98