S-2069               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6072

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senator Talmadge

Read first time 2/28/89 and referred to Committee on  Law & Justice.

AN ACT Relating to employee political activities; and amending RCW 49.60.180.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 9, chapter 37, Laws of 1957 as last amended by section 16, chapter 185, Laws of 1985 and RCW 49.60.180 are each amended to read as follows:

          It is an unfair practice for any employer:

          (1) To refuse to hire any person because of age, sex, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical handicap, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification:  PROVIDED, That the prohibition against discrimination because of such handicap shall not apply if the particular disability prevents the proper performance of the particular worker involved.

          (2) To discharge or bar any person from employment because of age, sex, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical handicap.

          (3) To discriminate against any person in compensation or in other terms or conditions of employment because of age, sex, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical handicap:  PROVIDED, That it shall not be an unfair practice for an employer to segregate washrooms or locker facilities on the basis of sex, or to base other terms and conditions of employment on the sex of employees where the commission by regulation or ruling in a particular instance has found the employment practice to be appropriate for the practical realization of equality of opportunity between the sexes.

          (4) To print, or circulate, or cause to be printed or circulated any statement, advertisement, or publication, or to use any form of application for employment, or to make any inquiry in connection with prospective employment, which expresses any limitation, specification, or discrimination as to age, sex, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical handicap, or any intent to make any such limitation, specification, or discrimination, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification:  PROVIDED, Nothing contained herein shall prohibit advertising in a foreign language.

(5) To discharge or discipline an employee for participating in any political activity on the employee's own time or to coerce or compel an employee to participate in a political activity in any manner.