HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1863

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Title: An act relating to allowing the department of labor and industries to provide information about scholarships available to children and spouses of certain injured or deceased workers.

Brief Summary of Bill

Creates an exemption in the state Ethics in Public Service Act permitting the Department of Labor and Industries to provide information about scholarship opportunities available to the children and spouses of workers who suffered death or permanent total disability.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Sells, Chair; Reykdal, Vice Chair; Manweller, Ranking Minority Member; Condotta, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Green, Holy, Moeller, Ormsby and Short.

Background:

Workers who, in the course of employment, are injured or disabled by an occupational disease are entitled to benefits. A worker who suffers specified catastrophic injuries or other condition permanently incapacitating the worker from performing any work at any gainful occupation is entitled to permanent total disability benefits, also referred to as pension benefits. Survivors of workers who died as a result of a workplace injury may also be entitled to certain benefits. The Department of Labor and Industries (Department) administers the Industrial Insurance Act.

The state Ethics in Public Service Act (Act) generally prohibits the use of state resources for the private benefit of others and the granting of special privileges to others.

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Summary of Bill:

An exemption in the Act is created. The Department may provide information about scholarship opportunities offered by nonprofit organizations and available to the children and spouses of workers who suffered death or permanent total disability from a workplace injury. The Department has discretion to provide information about one or more scholarship opportunities. The cost of printing and inserting materials, any additional mailing costs, and any other related costs must be borne by the organization.

The Department is also given express authority to provide the information.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Kids' Chance scholarship organization has been a great partnership between business and labor, and helps dependents of workers who have been killed or totally disabled. The bill will make sure information is provided about the scholarships, including to Department of Labor and Industries' employees. This is a very good bill with no controversy. People are working on raising money to support these families and the word needs to get out.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Stonier, prime sponsor; Kris Tefft, Association of Washington Business; Kathleen Collins, Washington Self-Insurers Association; and Cody Arledge, Kids' Chance.