March 29 was opposite house policy cutoff, the fourth major milestone of the 2023 legislative session. This meant that by March 29, bills must have been voted out of their opposite house policy committee to stay “alive” and continue along in the legislative process. Bills that have been sent to a fiscal committee in the opposite house have until April 4 to pass out of committee. Accordingly, this week the Legislature devoted most of its committee time to executive session work as well as floor action. Below is an update of WSDA’s week 12 activities in Olympia.

Update on Legislation from Weeks 1-11 Blogs

Concerning Dental Hygienists (HB 1287)

HB 1287 removes the requirement for hygienists seeking initial licensure in Washington state to have worked 560 hours over the past 24 consecutive months. 

HB 1287 passed out of the Senate unanimously – with three excused – on March 31, and floor action can be viewed on TVW [17:37-21:21].

HB 1287 passed out of the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee on March 14, and executive session can be viewed on TVW [1:46:00-1:46:11 and 1:46:37-1:46:58].

WSDA testified in support of HB 1287 during the bill’s public hearing in the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee on March 9, and testimony can be viewed on TVW [1:20:38-1:22:17].

HB 1287 passed out of the House of Representatives unanimously on Feb. 2, and floor action can be viewed on TVW [25:05-27:35].

WSDA testified in support of HB 1287 during the bill’s public hearing in the House Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee on Jan. 24, and testimony can be viewed on TVW [28:34-29:41].

Military Spouse Employment (Second Substitute House Bill 1009)

2SHB 1009 establishes that a licensing authority must issue a license or a temporary license to a military spouse within 30 days of receipt of a completed application for licensure. The second substitute defines military spouse as “any person married or previously married to a military service member, irrespective of the length of the marriage, during the military service member's service in any branch of the United States armed forces as an active-duty service member, reservist, or national guard member.” 2SHB 1009 requires certain state agencies, including the Department of Health and Department of Licensing, to establish a military spouse assistance webpage. The bill encourages licensing authorities to review their licensing application process for military spouses, identify barriers to military spouse employment, and appoint a military spouse to serve on their licensing board or commission. Finally, 2SHB 1009 allows a military spouse to terminate an employment contract without penalty after his or her service member spouse receives orders for a permanent change of station.

2SHB 1009 had a public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee on March 28, and testimony can be viewed on TVW [10:48-18:28].

2SHB 1009 passed out of the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee with a do pass recommendation on March 20, and executive session can be viewed on TVW [1:12:13-1:15:45 and 1:18:15-1:19:50].

2SHB 1009 had a public hearing in the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee on March 13, and testimony can be viewed on TVW [16:58-23:39 and 56:56-1:07:48].

2SHB 1009 passed out of the House of Representatives unanimously on Feb. 15, and floor action can be viewed on TVW [14:43-19:25].

WSDA signed in PRO on 2SHB 1009.

Concerning the State's Ability to Regulate Certain Industries and Risk Classes to Prevent Musculoskeletal Injuries and Disorders (Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5217)

ESSB 5217 repeals the law prohibiting the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) from adopting rules related to ergonomics or musculoskeletal disorders. The engrossed substitute provides limitations on the adoption of new rules, including allowing rules only for industries or risk classifications where compensable claims involved musculoskeletal injuries and disorders that are at a rate greater than two times the overall state claim rate for these types of injuries and disorders over a recent five-year period. ESSB 5217 requires L&I to identify industries and risk classifications most likely to be selected for rulemaking; review and report certain claims data; and consider certain factors during rulemaking. Lastly, the bill allows L&I to provide funding to employers to purchase additional equipment required to comply with an adopted rule and requires L&I to provide up to three ergonomists to provide consultation to employers.

ESSB 5217 is scheduled for executive session in the House Appropriations Committee on March 31.

ESSB 5217 had a public hearing in the House Appropriations Committee on March 30, and testimony can be viewed on TVW [2:26:50-2:38:20].

ESSB 5217 passed out of the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee on March 17, and executive session can be viewed on TVW [7:39-23:33].

ESSB 5217 had a public hearing in the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee on March 14, and testimony can be viewed on TVW [11:05-25:20 and 31:02-1:04:15].

ESSB 5217 passed out of the Senate – with a vote of 27 yeas, 21 nays, and 1 excused – on March 1, and floor action can be viewed on TVW [1:16:21-2:51:05].

WSDA signed in CON on ESSB 5217.

Questions?

Please contact WSDA at info@wsda.org.