Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Chapter 296-17A WAC, Classifications for workers' compensation insurance.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Amend chapter 296-17A WAC, Classifications for workers' compensation insurance, to move community action organizations' chore service workers from one classification to another.

     WAC 296-17A-1501-20 Community action organizations - all other employees N.O.C. Eliminate language requiring community action organizations to report chore service workers.

     WAC 296-17A-6511-00 Chore services/home care assistants. Create a subclassification specific to community action organizations for reporting their chore service workers.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: We are responding to requests from community action organizations to allow them to use classification 6511-00 Chore services for their chore workers rather than 1501-20 Community action organizations, all other employees N.O.C. We will update the language in those classifications to reflect this decision.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 51.16.035 and 51.16.100.

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 51.16.100.

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Name of Proponent: Department of labor and industries, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Jo Anne Attwood, Tumwater, Washington, (360) 902-4777; Implementation: Ronald Moore, Tumwater, Washington, (360) 902-4748; and Enforcement: Robert Malooly, Tumwater, Washington, (360) 902-4209.

     Agency Comments or Recommendations, if any, as to Statutory Language, Implementation, Enforcement, and Fiscal Matters: This rule making is being made to satisfy requests of employers of community action organizations to establish more affordable rates for their chore service workers.

     This rule making will put into rule the reporting instructions those organizations have already been given authorization by the department to use for workers' compensation premium reporting.

April 20, 2010

Judy Schurke

Director

OTS-3151.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 07-24-045, filed 12/1/07, effective 1/1/09)

WAC 296-17A-1501   Classification 1501.  

1501-00 Counties and taxing districts, N.O.C. - all other employees

     Applies to employees of counties and taxing districts, not covered by another classification (N.O.C.), who perform manual labor, or who supervise a work crew performing manual labor such as custodial or maintenance, and machinery or equipment operators including transit bus drivers. This classification includes administrative personnel such as engineers, safety inspectors, and biologists who have field exposure, and internal inventory and supply clerks. For purposes of this classification, field exposure is defined as any exposure other than the normal travel to or from a work assignment.

     This classification excludes electric light and power public utility districts which are to be reported separately in classification 1301; privately owned and operated bus or transit systems which are to be reported separately in classification 1407; water distribution or purification system public utility districts which are to be reported separately in classification 1507; irrigation system public utility districts which are to be reported separately in classification 1507; port districts which are to be reported separately in classification 4201; school districts, library districts or museum districts which are to be reported separately in classifications 6103 or 6104; hospital districts which are to be reported separately in classification 6105; firefighters who are to be reported separately in classification 6904; law enforcement officers who are to be reported separately in classification 6905 and 6906, as appropriate; clerical office and administrative employees who are to be reported separately in classification 5306, and volunteers who are to be reported separately in classifications 6901 or 6906, as appropriate.

1501-01 Housing authorities, N.O.C. - all other employees

     Applies to employees of housing authorities, not covered by another classification, who perform manual labor, or who supervise a work crew performing manual labor such as custodial or maintenance, and machinery or equipment operators. This classification includes all functional operations of a housing authority such as inspection, maintenance and repairs, including minor structural repairs, janitorial service, and building and grounds maintenance. Also included in this classification are meter readers, security personnel, other than those with law enforcement powers, administrative personnel such as engineers and safety inspectors who have field exposure, and internal inventory and supply clerks. For purposes of this classification, housing authorities are defined as nonprofit, public and political entities which serve the needs of a specific city, county or Indian tribe. The nature and objectives of some of the projects undertaken by housing authorities include providing decent, safe and sanitary living accommodations for low income persons, or providing group homes or halfway houses to serve developmentally or otherwise disabled persons or juveniles released from correctional facilities. A housing authority has the power to prepare, carry out, lease and operate housing facilities; to provide for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, alteration or repair of any housing project; to sell or rent dwellings forming part of the project to or for persons of low income; to acquire, lease, rent or sell or otherwise dispose of any commercial space located in buildings or structures containing a housing project; to arrange or contract for the furnishing of the units; and to investigate into the means and methods of improving such conditions where there is a shortage of suitable, safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations for persons of low income.

     This classification excludes new construction or major alteration activities which are to be reported separately in the appropriate construction classifications; clerical office and administrative employees who are to be reported separately in classification 5306; security personnel with law enforcement powers who are to be reported separately in classification 6905; and volunteers who are to be reported separately in classifications 6901 or 6906, as appropriate.

1501-08 Native American tribal councils - all other employees

     Applies to employees of Native American tribal councils who perform manual labor, or who supervise a work crew performing manual labor such as custodial or maintenance, and machinery or equipment operators. This classification includes administrative personnel such as engineers, safety inspectors, and biologists who have field exposure, and internal inventory and supply clerks of the tribal council. For purposes of this classification, field exposure is defined as any exposure other than the normal travel to and from a work assignment.

     This classification excludes electric light and power public utility districts which are to be reported separately in classification 1301; water distribution or purification system public utility districts which are to be reported separately in classification 1507; irrigation system public utility districts which are to be reported separately in classification 1507; school districts, library districts or museum districts which are to be reported separately in classifications 6103 or 6104; hospital districts which are to be reported separately in classification 6105; firefighters who are to be reported separately in classification 6904; law enforcement officers who are to be reported separately in classifications 6905 and 6906; new construction or reconstruction activities which are to be reported separately in the appropriate construction classification; clerical office and administrative employees who are to be reported separately in classification 5306.

     Special notes: Housing authorities operating under the name of, and for the benefit of, a particular tribe are not exempt from mandatory coverage. These housing authorities are federally funded and are not owned or controlled by a tribe.

     Only those tribal operations which are also provided by county governments are subject to classification 1501. The following activities, such as but not limited to, visiting nurses and home health care, grounds keepers, building maintenance, park maintenance, road maintenance, and garbage and sewer works, are considered to be normal operations to be included in this classification. All other tribal council operations which are not normally performed by a county government shall be assigned the appropriate classification for the activities being performed. The following operations, such as but not limited to, meals on wheels, bingo parlors, casinos, liquor stores, tobacco stores, grocery stores, food banks, gift shops, restaurants, motels/hotels, Head Start programs, fish/shellfish hatcheries, logging, and tree planting/reforestation are outside the scope of classification 1501 and are to be reported separately in the applicable classifications.

1501-09 Military base maintenance, N.O.C.

     Applies to establishments, not covered by another classification (N.O.C.), engaged in providing all support operations and services on a military base on a contract basis. Such services include, but are not limited to, data processing, photography, mail delivery (on post and to other military facilities), hotel/motel services, mess halls, recreational facilities, grounds and building maintenance, vehicle maintenance, and may also include the maintenance of such facilities as water works, sewer treatment plants and roads.

     This classification excludes new construction or construction repair projects which are to be reported separately in the applicable construction classification for the work being performed; contracts for specific activities on a military base such as, but not limited to, building maintenance, club or mess hall operations, or vehicle maintenance, which are to be reported separately in the applicable classification for the work being performed; firefighters who are to be reported separately in classification 6904; law enforcement officers who are to be reported separately in classification 6905; and clerical office and administrative employees who are to be reported separately in classification 5306.

     Special note: Classification 1501-09 is to be assigned to an establishment only when all support services on a military base are being provided by the contractor. Care should be taken when assigning classification 1501-09 to firms whose military support services include loading, unloading, repair or construction of vessels, or the repair of buildings or structures used for such activities as that firm may be subject to federal maritime law.

1501-20 Community action organizations - all other employees N.O.C.

     Applies to organizations performing an array of services to support the local community and citizens in need. The services provided by community action organizations may include, but are not limited to: Child care; after school care; alternative schools; in home chore services; employment or independence training, counseling and assistance; drug and alcohol recovery programs; decent, safe and sanitary living accommodations for low-income or needy citizens; transitional or emergency housing; weatherization; food and clothing banks; meals; or medical services.

     This classification applies to employees of community action organizations N.O.C. (not otherwise classified) who perform manual-type labor, or who supervise a work crew performing manual labor. Work in this classification includes, but is not limited to: Cooks, food banks, drivers, ((chore workers/home service workers,)) janitorial or maintenance and repair work, or weatherization services.

     Excluded from this risk classification is new construction or major alteration activities which are to be reported separately in the appropriate construction classifications; office employees who work exclusively in an administrative office environment who are to be reported in classification 4904-20; professional or administrative employees who may also have duties outside of the office who are to be reported in classification 5308-20; chore workers/home service workers who are to be reported in classification 6511-20; housing authorities which are to be reported in 1501-01 and 5306-26; welfare special works programs which are to be reported in 6505; work activity centers which are to be reported in 7309; and volunteers who are to be reported in classification 6901.

     See classifications 5308-20 and 4904-20 for other community action operations.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 51.16.035, 51.16.100, and 2007 c 324. 07-24-045, § 296-17A-1501, filed 12/1/07, effective 1/1/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.16.035 and 51.16.100. 07-12-047, § 296-17A-1501, filed 5/31/07, effective 7/1/07. 07-01-014, recodified as § 296-17A-1501, filed 12/8/06, effective 12/8/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.16.035, 51.04.020. 00-14-052, § 296-17-545, filed 7/1/00, effective 7/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.16.035. 99-18-068, § 296-17-545, filed 8/31/99, effective 10/1/99; 98-18-042, § 296-17-545, filed 8/28/98, effective 10/1/98; 96-12-039, § 296-17-545, filed 5/31/96, effective 7/1/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.04.020(1) and 54.16.035. 93-12-093, § 296-17-545, filed 5/31/93, effective 7/1/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.16.035. 85-24-032 (Order 85-33), § 296-17-545, filed 11/27/85, effective 1/1/86; 83-24-017 (Order 83-36), § 296-17-545, filed 11/30/83, effective 1/1/84; 80-17-016 (Order 80-23), § 296-17-545, filed 11/13/80, effective 1/1/81; Order 77-27, § 296-17-545, filed 11/30/77, effective 1/1/78; Emergency Order 77-25, § 296-17-545, filed 12/1/77; Order 73-22, § 296-17-545, filed 11/9/73, effective 1/1/74.]

OTS-3152.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 07-12-047, filed 5/31/07, effective 7/1/07)

WAC 296-17A-6511   Classification 6511.  

6511-00 Chore services/home care assistants

     Applies to establishments engaged in providing chore services/home care assistants to private individuals. Chore services performed by the chore workers/home care assistants include, but are not limited to, general household chores, meal planning and preparation, shopping and errands either with or without the client, personal care such as bathing, body care, dressing, and help with ambulating, as well as companionship. Frequently the recipients of service are funded by DSHS or some other community service agency; however, the services are also available to those who pay privately. This classification also applies to supported living, tenant support, and intensive tenant support services.

     This classification excludes individuals working under a welfare special works training program who are to be reported separately in classification 6505; domestic (residential) cleaning or janitorial services which are to be reported separately in classification 6602; and skilled or semiskilled nursing care which is to be reported separately in classification 6110. This classification also excludes home care providers covered under the home care quality authority who are to be reported separately under classification 6512.

6511-20 Community action organizations - Chore services/home care assistants

     Applies to community action organizations who provide chore services/home care assistants to private individuals. Chore services performed by the chore workers/home care assistants include, but are not limited to, general household chores, meal planning and preparation, shopping and errands either with or without the client, personal care such as bathing, body care, dressing, and help with ambulating, as well as companionship. This classification also applies to supported living, tenant support, and intensive tenant support services.

     This classification excludes individuals working under a special work experience training program who are to be reported separately in classification 6505; domestic (residential) cleaning or janitorial services which are to be reported separately in classification 6602; and skilled or semiskilled nursing care which is to be reported separately in classification 6110. This classification also excludes home care providers covered under the Washington state home care quality authority who are to be reported separately in classification 6512.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 51.16.035 and 51.16.100. 07-12-047, § 296-17A-6511, filed 5/31/07, effective 7/1/07. 07-01-014, recodified as § 296-17A-6511, filed 12/8/06, effective 12/8/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.16.035, 51.16.100. 06-12-075, § 296-17-72202, filed 6/6/06, effective 1/1/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.04.020 and 51.16.035. 04-18-025, § 296-17-72202, filed 8/24/04, effective 10/1/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.04.020, 51.16.035, and 51.12.120. 03-23-025, § 296-17-72202, filed 11/12/03, effective 1/1/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.16.035. 99-18-068, § 296-17-72202, filed 8/31/99, effective 10/1/99; 98-18-042, § 296-17-72202, filed 8/28/98, effective 10/1/98.]

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