H-0219.1

HOUSE BILL 1491

ByRepresentatives Orcutt, Chapman, Berry, Bronoske, Tharinger, and Pollet

AN ACT Relating to prohibiting unjustified employer searches of employee personal vehicles; adding new sections to chapter 49.12 RCW; prescribing penalties; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 49.12 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section:

(a) An employer or an employer's agent may not search the privately owned vehicles of employees located on the employer's parking lots or garages or located on the access road to the employer's parking lots or garages.

(b) An employee may possess any of the employee's private property within the employee's vehicle, unless possession of such property is otherwise prohibited by law.

(c) An employer must not require, as a condition of employment, that an employee or prospective employee waive the protections of (a) or (b) of this subsection.

(2) This section does not apply:

(a) To vehicles owned or leased by an employer;

(b) To lawful searches by law enforcement officers;

(c) When a reasonable person would believe that accessing vehicles of an employee is necessary to prevent an immediate threat to human health, life, or safety;

(d) When an employee consents to a search of his or her privately owned vehicle by the business owner, owner's agent, or a licensed private security guard based on probable cause that the employee unlawfully possesses: (i) Employer property; or (ii) a controlled substance in violation of both federal law and the employer's written policy prohibiting drug use. For purposes of this subsection, the employer's policy must contain a notice to employees that personal vehicles may be subject to search based on probable cause. Upon consent, the employee has the right to select a witness to be present for the search;

(e) To security inspections of vehicles on state and federal military installations and facilities;

(f) To vehicles located on the premises of a state correctional institution, as defined in RCW 9.94.049; or

(g) To specific employer areas subject to searches under state or federal law.

(3) For purposes of this section, the terms "probable cause" and "private property" have their usual meaning under state and federal law.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 49.12 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Upon complaint by an employee, the director must investigate to determine whether an employer has violated section 1 of this act. The director may require the testimony of witnesses and the production of documents as part of the director's investigation.

(2) If the director determines that an employer has violated section 1 of this act, the director may order payment to the department of a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for an employer's first violation and not more than $5,000 for any subsequent violation; and payment to the department of costs of investigation and enforcement. For the purposes of this subsection (2), each employee affected by a violation constitutes a separate violation.

(3) An appeal from the director's determination may be taken in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW.

(4) The department must deposit civil penalties paid under this section in the supplemental pension fund created in RCW 51.44.033.

(5) The department shall collect civil penalties and costs due under this section using the procedures in RCW 49.48.086.

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