Senate Passes Major Small Business Health Care Bill, House Must Concur
The Senate amended E2SHB 2572 so that it not only includes premium assistance to low income employees but also a B&O tax deduction for the costs of health care paid by small employers, rating changes to make health savings accounts less expensive, and the opportunity for insurers to create one health plan that does not contain all of the expensive legally mandated benefits. Unfortunately, the governor and some legislators don't want the bill to pass. Go to www.awb.org, and contact the governor and your representatives today! Tell them not to let this opportunity for significant reform get away. The House must CONCUR with E2SHB 2572! Contact AWB’s Mellani McAleenan at (360) 943-1600 or MellaniM@awb.org.

New Wage Payment Law Passes Senate – Fair to Employers, Fair to Employees
With AWB’s support, HB 3185 unanimously cleared the Senate on Wednesday and is on to the governor's office for her signature. This bill was a joint product between L&I, business and labor to provide L&I with sought-after administrative enforcement authority over wage payment requirements while providing employers with several new safe harbors and defenses to complicated wage and hour laws. Contact AWB’s Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

AWB Calls on Legislators to Preserve Initiative 601’s Spending Limits, Create Rainy Day Fund
As legislators rush to implement the budget, SSB 6896, providing for state funding stabilization, could receive amendments that would change Initiative 601 spending limits and also require the passage of SJR 8222, which would create a constitutional rainy day fund. AWB supports the establishment of a rainy day fund as responsible fiscal policy, but opposes any tinkering with Initiative 601’s spending limits. Go to www.awb.org, and tell your legislators that we need a constitutional rainy day fund to protect the Legislature from the Legislature when it comes to saving for future emergencies. Also tell your legislators not to weaken Initiative 601’s spending limits. Contact AWB’s Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.

House Passes Legislation Providing Temporary Relief to Odessa Aquifer Water Users
On March 3, the House unanimously passed SSB 6151, sponsored by Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, which tolls the five year relinquishment period for nonuse of water rights. SSB 6151 stops the “use-it-or-lose-it” clock for purposes of conservation, irrigation or water use efficiency, long- or short-term changes in the rotation or types of crops grown, economic hardship, pumping or infrastructure costs, unavailability or unsuitability of water, and willing and documented participation in efforts to reduce aquifer depletion. A water right holder choosing not to exercise a right under this bill will be required to notify the Dept. of Ecology in writing within 180 days of making that choice. This bill, coupled with the recent Columbia River water management legislation (SHB 2860), which was signed by the governor on February 16, will begin the process of providing relief to those dependent upon water from the Odessa sub-area. Gov. Gregoire has indicated she will sign this bill into law. Contact AWB’s Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600 or ChrisM@awb.org.

AWB Pleased With WISHA Right-of-Entry Bill as Passed by Senate
HB 2538, clarifying WISHA inspectors' right of entry to inspect workplaces and allowing for an administrative search warrant, passed the Senate unanimously on Tuesday and is also headed for the governor's signature. This bill, requested by L&I to bring it into compliance with federal OSHA mandates, was also the product of joint business-labor-department negotiations and was supported by the business community. A floor colloquy was held to clarify the standard of review a court should engage in when considering an application for an administrative search warrant. Contact Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

Compromise Unemployment Bill Clears Legislature - Governor to Sign This Week                     
Over the weekend, the Legislature passed a compromise bill initiating some lasting reforms to the state’s unemployment insurance system, the most expensive in the nation. Under the negotiated plan, seasonal workers - laborers who may only work for six months out of the year - will receive full unemployment benefits under so-called "two-quarter averaging." But employers will only have to pay taxes under "four-quarter averaging," meaning they'll pay less taxes because the payment would be based on the employee's average earnings over 12 months instead of six months. Gov. Gregoire is expected to sign the bill tomorrow or Wednesday. Contact Mellani McAleenan at MellaniM@awb.org or (360) 943-1600. 

AWB Priority Bill on Environmental Cleanup Incentives Passes the House
The House of Representatives passed SSB 6781 today by a vote of 96-1 to reenact the law establishing the tax classification for environmental remediation activities that expired in 2003. The bill provides a sales and use tax exemption and a preferential business and occupation tax rate of 0.471 percent for environmental remedial action until July 1, 2010. AWB made SSB 6781 a priority for 2006 and actively lobbied legislators for support. The bill passed the Senate earlier this year by a vote of 48-0 and is expected to be funded in the budget. The next stop is the governor’s office, which has cautioned against creating tax incentives. AWB believes the governor should support SSB 6781 as it will help environmental cleanup occur at a quicker rate while spurring job creation and higher property values. More jobs and higher property valuation are helpful to the economy in future years. Please go to www.awb.org, contact the governor and ask her to sign SSB 6781 into law. Contact AWB’s Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.

Bill to Allow Benefit Claims to Be Made Through Employer is Approved
AWB is pleased to see the passage of HB 2537, another L&I request bill which will establish a pilot program in workers' compensation, allowing benefit claims to be made through the employer, as opposed to the current system, where claims are made through the physician. The bill was approved on a vote of 47-2. Contact Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

Best Available Science Bill Dead for Now
It appears Gov. Gregoire’s Best Available Science legislation has failed to garner sufficient support for passage by missing a series of important cut off dates. SHB 2815 (and its companion SSB 6569) would have modified Washington’s Growth Management Act relating to critical areas by providing for an upside down approach to land use decision making. AWB opposed these bills because significant land use decision making would have been centralized in Olympia with the Dept. of Community, Trade & Economic Development and other state agencies, rather than being left to local governments. Although defeat of this legislation is a big win for AWB members, resolution of the Best Available Science debate and the controversy surrounding critical areas continues to be a matter of paramount importance to AWB. Contact Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600 or ChrisM@awb.org.

Streamlined Sales Tax Stalls in House – Urge Representatives to Support!
SB 6594, which would bring Washington’s sales tax rules in line with the federal agreement, is stalled in the House. Gov. Gregoire’s Chief of Staff Tom Fitzsimmons admitted at last week’s lobby lunch that there is little energy in the House to get the bill passed this year. AWB has worked hard to pass this bill, which is very good for business, and we don’t want to see it die on the vine. Go to www.awb.org, and urge your representatives to get behind SB 6594. It’s time to light a fire and get this needed bill passed and signed into law. Contact Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.

Family Leave Bill Passes House – AWB Neutral on its Passage
SB 6185, establishing a state Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) similar to the federal law, passed the House on a 54-44 vote and is on the way to the governor's office. AWB was able to pare the bill down from an expansion of federal FMLA requirements to a bill that in all substantial parts equivalent to the federal law and therefore was neutral on its passage. Unfortunately, a helpful amendment was defeated that would have kept L&I from enforcing this new law unless the federal standards changed. However, a floor colloquy was held in the House to claim that was the intent of the Legislature in passing the bill. Contact Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

On-Site Septic Systems Legislation Heads to Governor’s Desk
The Senate has concurred with the House and passed HB 1458, which addresses failing septic systems located near marine waters. HB 1458 now heads to the governor, who is expected to sign the bill into law. AWB supported this legislation because of the economic impacts to the shellfish industry caused by poor water quality and failing septic systems. HB 1458 requires local governments and Ecology to provide financial and technical assistance to homeowners to repair septic systems that are degrading shellfish growing areas. $6.5 million in the operating budget and $2.5 million in the capital budget has been appropriated to implement the bill. Contact AWB’s Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

Attorney General McKenna and Pollster Elway on Next Washington Business Weekly
Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna and Pollster Stuart Elway will be guests on the next Washington Business Weekly, 11 a.m.-12 noon, Thursday, on Tacoma’s KLAY 1180 AM and at www.awb.org. If you have any suggestions for future guests or topics, please let us know. Contact AWB’s Lex Nepomuceno at (360) 943-1600 or AlexisN@awb.org.

Learn the Legal Aspects of Interviewing, Hiring, Managing and Discharging Employees
AWB will hold an Employment Law Seminar at SeaTac’s Hilton Hotel, Wednesday, Mar. 22. This seminar will help employers manage the employment relationship from beginning to end. To register, go to www.awb.org/events/seminars/employmentaw.asp. Contact AWB’s Alisha Boggs at (360) 943-1600 or AlishaB@awb.org.