PERMANENT RULES
LABOR AND INDUSTRIES
Effective Date of Rule: December 31, 2011.
Purpose: ESSB 5873, which passed the 2009 legislature, requires the apprenticeship program to adopt rules regarding penalties for contractors found to be working apprentices out of ratio, with inappropriate supervision, or outside their work process scope of the approved apprenticeship program standards. Contractors who are found out of compliance in any of these areas by the Washington state apprenticeship and training council (WSATC) may have their responsible bidder status revoked for the first violation and be barred from bidding on any public works contract for five years upon the second violation.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 49.04 RCW, RCW 19.285.040, and chapter 197, Laws of 2009 (ESSB 5873).
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 11-16-084 on August 2, 2011.
Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: Based upon comments received during the public hearing process, the department amended the proposed rules by shortening the length of time to process complaints against the training agent who violates apprenticeship standards.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: November 22, 2011.
Judy Schurke
Director
OTS-4143.3
NEW SECTION
WAC 296-05-015
Decisions against training agent for
violating ratio, supervision and/or approved work process
requirements.
Based on a complaint, compliance review, or
other reason, the supervisor may investigate, in accordance
with the rules in this chapter, whether a training agent is in
compliance with the program standards relating to the ratio,
supervision, or approved work processes requirements for
purposes of responsible bidder status for public works under
RCW 39.04.350 (1)(e), or for purposes of prohibitions on
bidding on public works contracts under RCW 39.12.055(3).
(1) The supervisor shall notify the training agent and the program sponsor that an investigation has commenced.
(2) The supervisor shall prepare a report identifying the results of the investigation. If the results indicate that the training agent is not operating as required by the program standards, the supervisor will notify the training agent and program sponsor in writing of the results, with a copy of the report to the WSATC. Additionally:
(a) The supervisor will make a reasonable effort to secure compliance on the part of the training agent by requiring the training agent to submit to the supervisor a proposed plan identifying voluntary corrective action. The supervisor shall review the proposed corrective action plan and approve it, or work with the training agent to modify it, before its implementation. If the supervisor does not receive notice, within sixty calendar days, that action has been taken to correct violations, the supervisor may refer the matter to the WSATC for action. The program sponsor shall assist the training agent in developing a proposed corrective action plan and shall assist the supervisor in monitoring the training agent's compliance with the terms of the approved corrective action plan.
(b) If the supervisor is unable to obtain compliance from the training agent under (a) of this subsection, or if a second investigation within one year of the initial inspection reveals the training agent is not operating as required by the program standards, the supervisor shall refer the matter to the WSATC for action.
(3) The WSATC will take action upon the supervisor's referral under subsection (2)(b) of this section. After a hearing, the WSATC will decide by a majority vote of the members present whether to issue a determination under RCW 39.04.350 (1)(e) and 39.12.055(3) that the training agent is out of compliance with program standards relating to the ratio, supervision, or approved work processes requirements.
(4) A determination by the WSATC that a training agent is out of compliance with program standards relating to the ratio, supervision, or approved work processes requirements shall be stated in writing, along with the reasons supporting it, and shall be served upon the training agent, program sponsor, and supervisor as provided by RCW 34.05.010(19). Judicial review of the WSATC's written decision under this section shall be as provided in chapter 34.05 RCW.
(5) The supervisor shall place WSATC determinations under this section on file for public review. The supervisor shall maintain a list of all training agents who, as a result of a determination they are out of compliance pursuant to RCW 39.04.350 (1)(e) and 39.12.055(3), are ineligible to bid on a public works contract, or to have a bid accepted. The supervisor shall make the list available to the public upon request.
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