S-1434

WHEREAS, Over the past fifteen years, the national and state economy has witnessed growth in the "contingent work force"; and

WHEREAS, The contingent work force consists of short-term temporary workers, long-term temporary workers or permatemps, part-time workers, on-call workers, leased workers, day laborers, the self-employed, independent contract workers, and other workers who lack traditional full-time employment relationships; and

WHEREAS, During this same period, national statistics disclose a decline in wages for a large majority of wage earners, a loss in individual and family benefits, and an increase in employment insecurity; and

WHEREAS, Although reports suggest that the growth in the contingent work force is a serious problem, there has been no comprehensive study of Washington's contingent work force to learn the impact that this phenomenon has had on individuals and families, local economies, and the state economy;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That a study of the contingent work force be conducted to review and make recommendations on the following issues with respect to Washington's contingent work force:

How many workers, in both the private and public sector, are part of the contingent work force;

How may workers choose to be part of the contingent work force and how many feel they have no choice;

How long do workers remain part of the contingent work force;

What has been the growth rate of the contingent work force;

What is the demographic breakdown of the contingent work force;

What is the wage and benefit profile of the contingent work force;

What is the industrial and geographical breakdown of the contingent work force;

What are the explanations for the growth of the contingent work force;

What impact has the growth of the contingent work force had on employees and their families, the state's local economies, and the state economy;

What impact have the policies of the insurance industry had on the availability of employee benefits to the contingent work force;

Which state and federal laws, if any, provide for a different level of employee benefits based on the number of hours per week a person works or on the permanence of his or her employment;

To what extent are employer provided/contract benefits based on the number of hours per week a person works or on the permanence of his or her employment;

How has the growth of the contingent work force impacted social services;

What legislative proposals, at either the federal or state level, are being offered to address the concerns raised by the growth of the contingent work force;

Other issues identified by the contingent work force task force; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the study be conducted by a contingent work force task force composed of one member from each caucus of the Senate, each member being a member of the Senate labor and workforce development committee, appointed by the President of the Senate; one member from each caucus of the House of Representatives, each member being a member of the House of Representatives commerce and labor committee, appointed by the Co-Speakers of the House of Representatives; two members representing labor, appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Co-Speakers of the House of Representatives, from a list of names recommended by a state-wide organization representing a cross section and majority of organized labor in the state; two members representing business, appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Co-Speakers of the House of Representatives, from a list of names recommended by a state-wide organization of employers representing a majority of employers of the state; representatives of the department of labor and industries, including staff from the employment standards program and from the safety and health assessment and research for prevention program (SHARP), the employment security department, the work force training and education coordinating board, the department of social and health services, and the office of financial management. The department of labor and industries shall be the lead agency; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the department of labor and industries report the findings and recommendations of the contingent work force task force study to the labor and workforce development committee of the Senate and the commerce and labor committee of the House of Representatives by December 1, 1999; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the contingent work force task force expires July 1, 2000.