2023 legislative review
Rep . Chris Corry , R-Yakima , is a member of the House Consumer Protection & Business Committee .
SB 5110 allowing private right of action lawsuits within “ catch-all ” chapter 49.44
Failed / AWB Opposed sponsor : Sen . Karen Keiser , D-Des Moines
If approved , the bill would have added a private right of action ( PRA ) to all actions under 49.44 RCW ( which is a “ catch-all ” chapter of state law for employment laws that don ’ t neatly fit in other parts of the RCW ). This bill was the latest move in an ongoing push to add PRAs to Washington laws . AWB opposes PRAs , which are unnecessary and have added enormously costly burdens to employers , especially small businesses , in California , where they have been in place for years . SB 5110 passed the Senate 28-21 but failed to move out of the House .
SB 5236 nurse staffing
Passed / AWB Neutral sponsor : Sen . June Robinson , D-Everett
AWB joined with health care providers in opposing SB 5236 as introduced . The bill would have imposed strict nurse staffing ratios through rulemaking in all hospitals in the state , interfering with day-to-day operations . In a time when hospitals can ’ t find enough nurses to hire , this bill would have mandated hiring up to 20,000 more nurses or CNAs . Without enough nurses available to fill those positions , hospitals could have had to shut down service lines or close their doors . After intense negotiation and collaboration , the bill was changed to address the underlying issue without imposing staffing ratios . Based on amendments AWB went neutral . The bill passed the Senate 35-13 and the House 92-6 .
HB 1187 union privilege
Passed / AWB Opposed sponsor : Rep . David Hackney , D-Tukwila
This bill applies a new privilege to private labor relations . It reduces transparency and impedes the employer ’ s ability to investigate complaints . The law also reverses the privilege concept , putting the privilege with the union and not the individual ( unlike doctor-patient , attorney-client and every other legally defined privilege .) The bill passed the Senate 34-14 and the House 96-0 .
SB 5327 paying interns
Failed / AWB Opposed sponsor : Sen . Karen Keiser , D-Des Moines
If approved , this bill would have required any state or local governmental body or agency , or educational , charitable , or nonprofit organization receiving public funds that provides an internship , to pay the intern at least the state minimum wage for the hours of the internship . The bill failed to move out of committee .
12 association of washington business