HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 2135

BYRepresentatives Vekich, Cole and Prentice

Revising provisions on farm labor liens.

House Committe on Commerce & Labor

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (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)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 9, 1989

BACKGROUND:

In 1986, the crop lien statutes were recodified and clarified. Prior to the recodification, the lien statutes had required a person with a labor lien against a crop to file the lien within 20 days after the work was completed.  The revised law requires filing of the lien before the harvest of the crop is completed.

SUMMARY:

To enforce a crop lien, a person furnishing labor must file a statement with the Department of Licensing within 20 days after the cessation of the work for which the lien is claimed.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

Effective Date:The bill has an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Rebecca Smith, Evergreen Legal Services; Raul Ecevedo.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Agricultural workers often do not know that they will not get paid until after the harvest is completed.  Because of the change in the law in 1986, once the harvest is over the employee cannot file for a crop lien to secure the wages that are owed.  Before 1986, these employees were allowed 20 days after finishing work to file the lien.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.