b'2023 WPMA State Report Notable Bills thatWIED Association continued Passed the Opposite Chamber This Past Week:profiteer of a gallon of fuel. And yet our industry continues to bePLIA Reform (HB 1175) is WIED priority legislation to modern-under heavy artillery fire for being the bad guys.ize PLIA which is also supported by WSPA. The bill passed the Efforts are underway to launch a consumer education campaign toSenate on April 11 by a vote of 35-14. The bill will next be deliv-share the reality of the costs of this program and where the moneyered to the Governor for his signature.goes. This is the classic definition of oxymoron. Industrial Insurance Duties (SHB 1521), sponsored by Rep. Dan Bronoske (D- Lakewood), would create a new legal obligation for Legislative Update: employers that fund their own workers comp programs and those that handle worker claims. Under the bill, employers would have The WIED Associationis proud and happy to have Dianaa duty of good faith and fair dealing to workers with respect to all Carlen as our new Lobbyist and counsel in Olympia, WA. Dianaaspects of workers compensation. The bill as passed by the Senate has been incredible with the challenges we have faced this year,narrowed the legislation to apply only to municipal self-insured and has stepped up communication to membership. Below is theemployers and their third-party administrators. Changes addition-latest version of our Legislative Efforts. ally clarified that they bill is not intended to create or imply a private right of action outside the workers compensation system to WIED UpdateApril 16, 2023 enforce the new duty it creates. On Thursday, the House refused to Today marks the ninety-ninth day of the legislative session. Justconcur with the Senate amendments and asked the Senate to recede seven days remain in the 2023 legislative session. April 12 wastheir amendments. the deadline to pass bills from the opposite chamber, except forClimate-Ready Communities (2SHB 1176), sponsored by Rep. budgets and bills necessary to implement the budget.Vandana Slatter (D- Bellevue), is Governor request legislation. Over the next week, the Legislature will continue to focus onThe bill would establish the Washington Climate Corps, admin-reconciling differences between each chambers budget proposals,istered by Serve Washington, to provide climate related service bills that are necessary to implement the budget, and bills on theopportunities for young adults and veterans. The bill also puts in Concurrence Calendar. As a reminder, the Concurrence Calendarplace the Clean Energy Technology Workforce Advisory Commit-is a list of bills that have passed out of both chambers, but weretee. The Committee would be responsible for reviewing workforce amended in the second chamber. In order for a bill to pass theand business issues in the energy sector and the impacts of the Legislature, the differences in the two versions of the bill approvedenergy transition as well as recommending strategies to prevent by each chamber need to be reconciled.workforce displacement and support job creation inclean energy. On Wednesday, the bill passed the Senate by aOnce a bill passes the Legislature, it is delivered to the Governorvote of 31-18. to be signed into law, vetoed, or partially vetoed (the Governor hasUnemployment Voluntary Quits (ESHB 1106), sponsored by the authority to remove entire sections of a bill, but not specificRep. Mary Fosse (D- Everett), would expand the list of unem-sentences). The Governor has five days, excluding Sundays, toployment qualifications for voluntary quits. The bill would allow take action on bills, unless the Legislature is within five days ofindividuals to qualify for unemployment insurance (UI) in certain adjournment, in which case the Governor has twenty days to takecircumstances if they must quit because they are unable to access action. The final day of the 2023 Legislative Session is Sunday,care for a child or a vulnerable adult or because of the death, ill-April 23rd.ness, or disability of a family member. Additionally, the bill allows New Tax Increase Proposals individuals to qualify for UI should they leave work to relocate Under Consideration to follow a minor child that moved or for scenarios in which an While the original budget proposals rolled out this session did notemployer changes regularly scheduled shift start or end times by propose any tax increases, two new tax increase proposals havemore than six hours on a permanent basis. On Friday, the House emerged as we approach the end of the session.concurred with previous changes made and the bill will be deliv-ered to the Governor to sign. 2SHB 1628 passed out of the House Finance Committee on FridayWage Complaints (HB 1217), sponsored by Rep. Lillian Ortiz-with all Republicans on the committee voting against the proposalSelf (D-Mukilteo), was amended to require wage complaint with one Democrat joining. This legislation would increase bothsettlements to include interest on amounts owed, with the option state and local real estate excise taxes. Proceeds would be spent onfor an employee to request a waiver or reduction of interest as part affordable housing.of the settlement process. On Wednesday, the amended bill passed SB 5770 was introduced in the Senate on Wednesday. It wouldthe Senate by a vote of 33-16. Amendments include clarifying that raise the cap on increases in state and local property taxes from 1%the requirement for certain wage complaint settlements to include to 3% per year. The bill was introduced just outside the windowinterest on amounts owed only applies to complaints filed after requiring a 2/3rds vote of the legislature. The bill has 20 Sen- January 1, 2024. On Friday, the House concurred with Senate ate Democrat sponsors. The bill has not yet been scheduled for aamendments. The bill will next be delivered to the Governor for public hearing. bill action. 32 www.wpma.com / Post WPMAEXPO 2023'