(1) The director of the department of labor and industries shall adopt permanent rules that take effect no later than March 1, 2001, revising any safety standards governing flaggers.

(2) The transportation commission shall adopt permanent rules that take effect no later than March 1, 2001, revising any safety standards governing flaggers.

(3) The utilities and transportation commission shall adopt permanent rules that take effect no later than March 1, 2001, revising any safety standards and employment qualifications governing flaggers.

(4) The permanent rules adopted pursuant to this section shall be designed to improve options available to ensure the safety of flaggers, ensure that flaggers have adequate visual warning of objects approaching from behind them, and, with respect to the utilities and transportation commission rules, update employment qualifications for flaggers.

(5) In developing permanent rules adopted pursuant to this section, state agencies and commissions shall consult with other persons with an interest in improving safety standards and updating employment qualifications for flaggers. State agencies and commissions shall coordinate and make consistent, to the extent possible, permanent rules. State agencies and commissions shall report, by April 22, 2001, to the senate labor and workforce development committee and the house of representatives commerce and labor committee on the permanent rules adopted pursuant to this section.

Emergency rules: "(1) The director of the department of labor and industries shall adopt emergency rules that take effect no later than June 1, 2000, revising any safety standards governing flaggers.

(2) The transportation commission shall adopt emergency rules that take effect no later than June 1, 2000, revising any safety standards governing flaggers.

(3) The utilities and transportation commission shall adopt emergency rules that take effect no later than June 1, 2000, revising any safety standards governing flaggers.

(4) Notwithstanding RCW 34.05.350, the emergency rules adopted pursuant to this section shall remain in effect or be adopted in sequence until March 1, 2001, or the effective date of the permanent rules adopted pursuant to RCW 49.17.350, whichever is earlier.

(5) The emergency rules adopted pursuant to this section shall be designed to improve options available to ensure the safety of flaggers, and ensure that flaggers have adequate visual warning of objects approaching from behind them.

(6) In developing emergency rules adopted pursuant to this section, state agencies and commissions shall consult with other persons with an interest in improving safety standards for flaggers. State agencies and commissions shall report, by September 15, 2000, to the senate labor and workforce development committee and the house of representatives commerce and labor committee on the emergency rules adopted pursuant to this section." [ 2000 c 239 s 1.]

Effective date—2000 c 239 ss 1 and 2: "Sections 1 and 2 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and take effect immediately [March 31, 2000]." [ 2000 c 239 s 9.]

Short title—2000 c 239 ss 1 and 2: "Sections 1 and 2 of this act may be known and cited as the "Kim Vendl Worker Safety Act."" [ 2000 c 239 s 10.]

Captions not law—2000 c 239: "Captions used in this act are not any part of the law." [ 2000 c 239 s 11.]