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Legislative Update - For the Week of March 1
Click here to access the 2010 SHRM/WA State Council Legislative Update!
Click here for the latest Government Affairs SHRM HR Issues Update News!
Click here for information on the 2010 COBRA Subsidy Extension.
Click here for the latest commentary from the Washington Policy Center.
Click here for the President's Healthcare Reform Proposal from Feb. 23, 2010.
It has been a busy legislative session in Olympia so far! Take a look at just a few of the pieces of legislation that have had action in the last couple of weeks (below). Keep in mind that many of these will go nowhere however some of them are further along than others.
Remember to let your legislators know what you think of the bills that affect you and your employer! And tell your members to do the same!
The link below is a great one for finding your legislator or looking up and following bills of interest!
House Bill 3024 (Providing uninterrupted meal and rest breaks for hospital employees) Amendment offered in the Senate on February 26, 2010, to provide that Hospitals must give employees uninterrupted 30-minute meal breaks and rest breaks of at least ten minutes for every four hours worked, or as otherwise agreed to be provided by the employer, whichever is longer. Specifies exceptions. The amendment passed in the Senate by voice vote on February 26, 2010, to provide that Hospitals must give employees uninterrupted 30-minute meal breaks and rest breaks of at least ten minutes for every four hours worked, or as otherwise agreed to be provided by the employer, whichever is longer. Specifies exceptions.
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=105892
House Bill 1329 (regarding collective bargaining for child care workers)
Amendment offered in the Senate on February 26, 2010, to modify the subjects of bargaining and make the permissive items mandatory subjects. The arbitration provisions are removed and the subjects of bargaining may not be subject to arbitration. Negotiated rulemaking may not occur before July 1, 2014. Individual membership and dues are on a voluntary basis and a child care center may not require its workers to pay a proportionate share of the representation fee. The Department of Social and Health Services must adjust the rates of child care subsidies paid to all child care centers to reflect the rate provisions in a collective bargaining agreement. The act is to be terminated June 30, 2019, and the underlying provisions are to expire June 30, 2020. The amendment passed in the Senate by voice vote on February 26, 2010, to modify the subjects of bargaining and make the permissive items mandatory subjects. The arbitration provisions are removed and the subjects of bargaining may not be subject to arbitration. Negotiated rulemaking may not occur before July 1, 2014. Individual membership and dues are on a voluntary basis and a child care center may not require its workers to pay a proportionate share of the representation fee. The Department of Social and Health Services must adjust the rates of child care subsidies paid to all child care centers to reflect the rate provisions in a collective bargaining agreement. The act is to be terminated June 30, 2019, and the underlying provisions are to expire June 30, 2020.
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=70278
House Bill 1560 (regarding collective bargaining at higher education institutions)
Amendment offered in the Senate on February 26, 2010, to make the Public Employees Collective Bargaining Act applicable to full-time and part-time University of Washington extension lecturers in English language programs holding annual and quarterly contracts. The amendment passed in the Senate by voice vote on February 26, 2010, to make the Public Employees Collective Bargaining Act applicable to full-time and part-time University of Washington extension lecturers in English language programs holding annual and quarterly contracts.
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=71672
Senate Bill 6524 (Addressing unemployment insurance penalties and contribution rates for employers who are not "qualified employers.") Received in the House on February 17, 2010. Passed in the House (96 to 0) on February 28, 2010, modifies certain provisions of the unemployment insurance system for delinquent employers as well as the experience rated factor for delinquent employers. It also subjects employers who knowingly fail to register with the Employment Security Department to a penalty and provides a good cause exemption to such penalty.
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=467902
Senate Bill 6538 (Re-defining small groups for insurance purposes.) Received in the House on February 17, 2010. Passed in the House (58 to 36) on February 28, 2010, changes the small group market from two to 50 employees, to one to 50 employees. It also provides a contingent effective date of 180 days after the Insurance Commissioner certifies the President of the United States has signed federal legislation that include guaranteed issue for individuals purchasing health coverage in the individual or small group market.
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=467914
House Bill 1714 (Health insurance)
Amendment offered in the Senate on February 26, 2010, to prohibit the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) rom collecting data from carriers if any rules necessary to implement the data submission have not been adopted. The commissioner must allow carriers a minimum of 90 days to submit data once carriers have received instructions. The amendment passed in the Senate by voice vote on February 26, 2010, to prohibit the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) rom collecting data from carriers if any rules necessary to implement the data submission have not been adopted. The commissioner must allow carriers a minimum of 90 days to submit data once carriers have received instructions.
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=72839
House Bill 2875 (Concerning health savings accounts)
Amendment offered in the Senate on February 26, 2010, to replace the underlying bill with language from SHB 3015 establishing an interstate compact for the sale of health benefit plans. The Insurance Commissioner is authorized to enter into a compact with other states for the purpose of permitting the sale of small group health benefit plans across state lines. The act expires January 1, 2015. The amendment passed in the Senate by voice vote on February 26, 2010, to replace the underlying bill with language from SHB 3015 establishing an interstate compact for the sale of health benefit plans. The Insurance Commissioner is authorized to enter into a compact with other states for the purpose of permitting the sale of small group health benefit plans across state lines. The act expires January 1, 2015.
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=105087
Senate Bill 6582 (Concerning nursing assistant credentialing) Received in the House on February 17, 2010. Passed in the House (67 to 29) on February 28, 2010, requires the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission to adopt criteria for alternative training to determine eligibility to take the certified nursing assistant competency evaluation, including an option that allows certified home care aides and medical assistants to take the examination after completing specified additional training.
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=467406
Senate Bill 6196 (Modifying military leave provisions for public employees.)
Amendment offered in the House on February 23, 2010, makes clear that a public employee on military leave may only be charged leave for the time that he or she is regularly scheduled to work for the public employer. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on February 23, 2010, makes clear that a public employee on military leave may only be charged leave for the time that he or she is regularly scheduled to work for the public employer.
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=102519
Senate Bill 6538 (Re-defining small groups for insurance purposes.) Amendment offered by Rep. Barbara Bailey, (R-Oak Harbor) (R) on February 28, 2010, to provide a null and void clause. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on February 28, 2010, to provide a null and void clause.
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=105456
Senate Bill 5046 (Collective bargaining jurisdiction for performing arts employees) Received in the House on February 16, 2010. Passed in the House (60 to 36) on February 28, 2010, establishes procedures for collective bargaining between certain private symphony orchestras and symphony musicians. The amendment authorizes the Public Employment Relations Commission to administer and enforce these procedures.
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=467382
House Bill 1096 (Enhancing small business participation in state purchasing)
Amendment offered in the Senate on February 26, 2010, to replace the small business preference program with a requirement to develop and implement a plan to increase the number of small businesses receiving state contracts. Using 2009 as the base year, contracts to small businesses are to be increased by 50 percent in 2012 and 100 percent in 2014. The amendment passed in the Senate by voice vote on February 26, 2010, to replace the small business preference program with a requirement to develop and implement a plan to increase the number of small businesses receiving state contracts. Using 2009 as the base year, contracts to small businesses are to be increased by 50 percent in 2012 and 100 percent in 2014.
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=69374
House Bill 2603 (Requiring agencies to notify small businesses before imposing a fine on them)
Amendment offered in the Senate on February 26, 2010, to change the definition of a small business to a business with 250 or fewer employees or with gross revenues of less than $7 million annually. The amendment passed in the Senate by voice vote on February 26, 2010, to change the definition of a small business to a business with 250 or fewer employees or with gross revenues of less than $7 million annually.
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=102810
Senate Bill 6345 (Making the use of cell phones while driving a primary offense )
Amendment offered in the House on February 24, 2010, prohibits the holder of either an intermediate driver's license or an instruction permit from operating a motor vehicle while using a wireless communication device except in the case of an emergency. The amendment allows the laws relating to the use of a cell phone or other wireless
communication device while operating a moving motor vehicle to be enforced as a primary infraction for all drivers. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on February 24, 2010, prohibits the holder of either an intermediate driver's license or an instruction permit from operating a motor vehicle while using a wireless communication device except in the case of an emergency. The amendment allows the laws relating to the use of a cell phone or other wireless
communication device while operating a moving motor vehicle to be enforced as a primary infraction for all drivers.
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=103126
Remind everyone to contact their legislators!
Use the www.SHRM.ORG website if you’re writing letters! We want SHRM to know we are participating in the legislative process here in the “other Washington”!
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