HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6396

As Amended by the House

BYSenators West, Conner and Anderson; by request of Department of Labor and Industries

Ending the use of apprentices' assumed wage rates for computing disability compensation payments.

House Committe on Commerce & Labor

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Wang, Chair; Cole, Vice Chair; Fisher, Jones, R. King, O'Brien, Patrick, Sanders, Sayan, C. Smith and Walker.

House Staff:Chris Cordes (786-7117)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 2, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Apprentices or trainees who are participating in supplemental and related instruction classes conducted by a school district, community college, vocational school or joint apprenticeship committee are covered by industrial insurance for the time spent in actual attendance at the classes.  The apprentices and trainees are workers of the state apprenticeship council for the purposes of the industrial insurance coverage.

For most injured workers, industrial insurance benefits are computed based on the worker's monthly wage at the time of injury.  For apprentices and trainees, the assumed wage rate while participating in classes is three dollars per hour, for computing both premiums and disability benefits.

SUMMARY:

Industrial insurance disability benefit payments for apprentices and trainees participating in supplemental and related instruction classes conducted by a school or joint apprenticeship committee must be computed based on the apprentice's or trainee's actual wage rate during employment.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Betty Buckley, Department of Labor and Industries;  Chuck Bailey, Washington State Labor Council;  and Bob Dilger, Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Classroom activities for apprentices are very often like work experiences except that the apprentice is not familiar with the equipment or procedures that the work entails.  If an apprentice is injured during a classroom activity, the apprentice should receive workers' compensation (as partial income replacement) based on his or her actual wages.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.