Z-426                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5468

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators Lee and Smitherman; by request of Department of Labor and Industries

Read first time 1/25/89 and referred to Committee on   Economic Development & Labor.

AN ACT Relating to medical aid premiums; and amending RCW 51.16.140.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 51.16.140, chapter 23, Laws of 1961 as last amended by section 29, chapter 350, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. and RCW 51.16.140 are each amended to read as follows:

          ((Every employer who is not a self-insurer shall deduct from the pay of each of his or her workers one-half of the amount he or she is required to pay, for medical benefits within each risk classification)) The medical aid fund premium rate for each risk classification shall have an employer component and an employee component.  The director shall promulgate rules governing the application of experience rating medical aid fund employer and employee premium rates.  Every employer who is not a self-insurer may deduct the employees' share of the medical premium from their wages and shall pay the total medical premium, including both employer and employee portions, to the department.  Such amount shall be periodically determined by the director and reported by him or her to all employers under this title:  PROVIDED, That the state governmental unit shall pay the entire amount into the medical aid fund for volunteers, as defined in RCW 51.12.035, and the state apprenticeship council shall pay the entire amount into the medical aid fund for registered apprentices or trainees, for the purposes of RCW 51.12.130.  It shall be unlawful for the employer, unless specifically authorized by this title, to deduct or obtain any part of the premium or other costs required to be by him or her paid from the wages or earnings of any of his or her workers, and the making of or attempt to make any such deduction shall be a gross misdemeanor.