HB 2106 -
By Representative Chandler
Beginning on page 5, line 10 of the amendment, strike all of section 3 and insert the following:
"Sec. 3 RCW 19.30.040 and 1987 c 216 s 1 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) The director shall require the deposit of a surety bond, or
cash or other security as described in subsection (5) of this section,
by any person acting as a farm labor contractor under this chapter to
insure compliance with the provisions of this chapter, including
payment to workers of all sums owing in the event that a license is
revoked. Such bond shall be in an amount specified by the director in
accordance with such criteria as the director adopts by rule but shall
not be less than five thousand dollars. The bond shall be payable to
the state of Washington and be conditioned on payment of sums legally
owing under contract and under RCW 19.30.170 to ((an)) any agricultural
((employee)) workers. The aggregate liability of the surety upon such
bond for all claims which may arise thereunder shall not exceed the
face amount of the bond.
(2) The amount of the bond may be raised or additional security
required by the director, upon his or her own motion or upon petition
to the director by any person, when it is shown that the security or
bond is insufficient to satisfy the contractor's potential liability
for the licensed period.
(3) No surety insurer may provide any bond, undertaking,
recognizance, or other obligation for the purpose of securing or
guaranteeing any act, duty, or obligation, or the refraining from any
act with respect to a contract using the services of a farm labor
contractor unless the farm labor contractor has made application for or
has a valid license issued under RCW 19.30.030 at the time of issuance
of the bond, undertaking, recognizance, or other obligation.
(4) Surety bonds may not be canceled or terminated during the
period in which the bond is executed unless thirty days' notice is
provided by the surety to the department. The bond is written for a
one-year term and may be renewed or extended by continuation
certification at the option of the surety.
(5) In lieu of the surety bond required by this section, the
contractor may file with the director a deposit consisting of cash or
other security acceptable to the director. The deposit shall not be
less than five thousand dollars in value. The security deposited with
the director in lieu of the surety bond shall be returned to the
contractor at the expiration of three years after the farm labor
contractor's license has expired or been revoked if no legal action has
been instituted against the contractor or on the security deposit at
the expiration of the three years.
(6) If a contractor has deposited a bond with the director and has
failed to comply with the conditions of the bond as provided by this
section, and has departed from this state, service may be made upon the
surety as prescribed in RCW 4.28.090."
EFFECT: Does not increase the amount of the surety bond or vary the amount depending on the number of employees employed by the contractor. Also does not require or authorize the director of the Department of Labor and Industries to increase the amount of the surety bond or require additional security to cover repatriation costs.