S-5246               _______________________________________________

                                   SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8437

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By Senators Lee, Newhouse, Barr, Bailey, Zimmerman, Patterson, Anderson, West, Metcalf and Sellar

Read first time 3/1/88 and referred to Committee on Economic Development & Labor.

WHEREAS, The state of Washington recognizes the contribution to the economy provided by farm workers and those who employ farm workers; and

          WHEREAS, The status of farm workers in the state of Washington requires examination of policies which affect those workers; and

          WHEREAS, State law must consider the economic well-being of small and large farms as well as farm workers; and

          WHEREAS, Some farm workers and some farmers are treated differently under the unemployment compensation insurance system; and

          WHEREAS, The legislature desires to provide a fair and workable unemployment compensation system for all workers and employers;

          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That a joint select committee on unemployment compensation for agricultural workers be established to:  (1) Review current unemployment compensation coverage for farm workers in the state of Washington and other states; (2) examine changes in the work force, including demand for and supply of agricultural labor, the unemployment compensation benefits accorded to farm workers, and the effect of these policies; (3) determine the impacts of federal unemployment compensation insurance requirements on farmers; (4) determine the impacts of farm worker exemption from the minimum wage; and (5) make recommendations to the legislature for state policies on unemployment compensation and minimum wage exemption for agricultural workers; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee consist of twelve voting members appointed as follows:  (1) The chair and ranking minority member of the Senate Economic Development and Labor Committee and the House Commerce and Labor Committee; (2) two members of the majority caucus, and two members of the minority caucus, of the Senate, selected by the President.  At least one member from each caucus shall be a member of the Economic Development and Labor Committee; (3) two members of the majority caucus, and two members of the minority caucus of the House of Representatives, selected by the Speaker.  At least one member from each caucus shall be from the Commerce and Labor Committee; and (4) a nonvoting chair appointed from the Washington State University's College of Agriculture by agreement of the President and the Speaker; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall establish an advisory group, with which it shall work closely in the development of recommendations identified above.  The advisory group shall consist of representatives of appropriate state agencies and of equal representation from farm worker and farmer organizations; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall use legislative staff and facilities, and all expenses of the committee shall be paid jointly by the Senate and the House of Representatives; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the governor and the legislature by the commencement of the 1989 regular session of the legislature.  The committee shall cease to exist on May 1, 1989.