Member Alert: Be Aware of the Supreme Court’s Brink’s Home Security decision
In mid-October, the Washington Supreme Court held in Brink’s Home Security, a wage-and-hour class-action lawsuit, that the time an employee spends commuting to and from home and jobsites is work time that must be compensated.  This is contrary to the normal rule that commute time isn’t work time.  The decision created great uncertainty about what driving time must be compensated, and several copycat class-action lawsuits have been filed against Washington employers.  AWB and others are partnering to address the fallout through legislative or regulatory solutions.  In the meantime, we have posted a member alert on our Web site at http://www.awb.org/otherissues/Brinks%20Alert%2012-3.pdf with a discussion of the case and some recommendations.  For more information, contact Kris Tefft at KrisT@AWB.org or (360) 943-1600. 

Legislature reinstates I-747 property tax cap
Following a one-day special legislative session on Nov. 29, Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a bill that reinstated the I-747 property tax limits thrown out by the Supreme Court. In addition, the Legislature passed a property tax deferral program. For more details, read Olympia Business Watch’s take on the session at www.olympiabusinesswatch.com/2007/11/they-came-they.html.

Paid Family Leave task force winding up
The joint legislative task force responsible for solving the problem of how to administer, fund, and implement Washington’s new paid family leave benefit mandate is wrapping up its work and heading toward putting a report and recommendations together.  The final meeting of the task force is set for Dec. 13 in Olympia, while an implementation subcommittee will be exploring issues on Dec. 6 in SeaTac.  For more information on either meeting, or to find out where things tentatively stand, contact Kris Tefft at KrisT@AWB.org or (360) 943-1600. 

AWB raises more than $25,000 for needy families through Capitol Holiday Kids’ Tree
About 100 Association of Washington Business members and friends contributed  more than $25,000 this year for the Capitol Holiday Kids’ Tree Project.  AWB sponsors the annual project, which was founded in 1989 to provide a Christmas tree for the State Capitol Rotunda in Olympia. In 18 years, AWB raised more than a quarter-million dollars to fund the tree and to provide rural firefighters in western Washington with funds to buy food and Christmas presents for needy families in small communities. “Often, Christmas gift programs and pantry baskets focus on cities and urban areas,” said AWB President Don Brunell. ”We found that people in rural areas need help, as well. Rural fire departments are the best conduit to help them.” This year, Rayonier from Sequim will provide the 30-foot Noble fir for the Rotunda.  The tree lighting ceremony with Gov. Chris Gregoire and AWB Board Chair Brad Carlson, owner of Evergreen Memorial Gardens of Vancouver, Wash., will be held on Dec. 7 at 6 p.m.  It is open to the public and free of charge.

Calling nominations for 2008 Manufacturer of the Year Award
Manufacturing makes an invaluable contribution to Washington’s economy and its citizens’ quality of life. Nominate your company or another manufacturer you know that has invested time, money and other resources in making their business a model of manufacturing excellence. Each entry will be judged based on financial/economic impact; productivity/quality improvement; corporate responsibility; and workforce excellence. Presentation of the awards for Large Manufacturer of the Year (more than 500 employees) and Small Manufacturer of the Year (499 or fewer employees) will occur at the AWB Legislative Reception luncheon on Feb. 6, 2008.  For the winners, AWB will provide photos of the presentation as well as a press release for their hometown newspapers, radio and TV stations.  For more information, or to obtain an application, e-mail Mike Hudson at mikeh@awb.org or call 1-800-521-9325 x1031. All nominations must be postmarked by Jan. 15, 2008.

Don’t miss Olympia Business Watch
Olympia Business Watch is AWB’s blog reviewing the news and events shaping business and politics. Recent posts by AWB’s Communications and Government Affairs staff include: Wage and Hour Discrimination: Employers Facing Liability Expansions; Planting the Paid Family Leave Seed in the Garden State?; Tort Kings Dethroned; They came. They capped. They deferred.; Research Council Provides Perspective on 747 and Special Session; Massachusetts Reforms May Lead to Budget Shortfall; Everyone Has an Opinion on the 747 Session—Even Me; and Stick to Restoring the 1-percent Cap in Special Session. To see these and other posts, check out Olympia Business Watch at www.olympiabusinesswatch.com. 

Energy Committee meeting Dec. 7—Sales tax exemption on agenda
At its next meeting (Dec. 7, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.), AWB’s Energy Committee will discuss Simpson Timber Company’s request that AWB support its 2008 legislative proposal for a sales tax exemption for equipment associated with a manufacturing facility used to produce renewable power (biomass). The committee will also review a request from the Northwest Energy Coalition to support its 2008 legislative package of tax incentives for energy efficiency and conservation. These proposals come directly from the governor’s Climate Advisory Team’s Residential, Commercial and Industrial Technical Working Group. In addition, the committee will discuss the EFSEC final Pipeline Utility Corridor Capacity study. Contact AWB’s Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600 or ChrisM@awb.org. Contact AWB’s Linnea Ridenour at (360) 943-1600 or LinneaR@awb.org if you are unable to attend in person and would like to teleconference.

Manufacturers must renew covered electronic products annual registration
It’s time for manufacturers of covered electronic products (CEPs) to renew their annual registration in Washington. To renew your registration, go to https://secureaccess.wa.gov/index.html.  Your registration renewal must reach the Washington State Department of Ecology by Jan. 1. For more information, go to www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/eproductrecycle/.  For questions or assistance with the registration process, please call (360) 407-6999 or e-mail math46@ecy.wa.gov. 

AWB argues at Supreme Court in important forum shopping/liability case
Last Thursday, AWB General Counsel Kris Tefft presented oral arguments at the Washington Supreme Court in Sales v. Weyerhaeuser, a case involving important issues about where tort lawsuits should be heard.  Arguing alongside Weyerhaeuser’s counsel, AWB addressed the court on why an asbestos lawsuit in which every allegation, fact, and witness is in Arkansas should not be heard in Washington because of plaintiff’s admitted strategy to find a more favorable forum.  A precedent here could subject Washington manufacturers to tort lawsuits from around the world that have nothing to do with our state.  For more information, contact Kris Tefft at KrisT@AWB.org or (360) 943-1600. 

Employment Law Seminar: Hiring, managing and discharging your employees
This one-day seminar on Dec. 4 is a powerful tool that will help inform your key personnel on how to avoid legal traps and provide a solid understanding of changing laws and regulations in the employment area. Learn more at  www.awb.org/events/seminars/employmentaw.asp. Contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello at JenniferC@awb.org or (360) 943-1600.

Better Workplace Awards nominations due by Jan. 4
AWB’s Better Workplace Awards honor companies who have taken extra steps to create a better working environment in the areas of workplace safety, job training and advancement programs, and innovative benefit and compensation programs. Have your company recognized for its accomplishments! Submit your nominations by Jan. 4 to www.awb.org/services/awards/bwa/index.asp.  For more information, contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello at JenniferC@awb.org or (360) 943-1600.

Shape Washington’s future by attending AWB’s 2008 Legislative Reception and Briefing
Would you like to know more about the issues that will affect your business in 2008 and beyond?  Does the impact that legislation has on your business in key areas—like worker’s compensation, education, competitiveness, and health care—concern you?  More than anything, would you like to have a say in how our Legislature handles these issues?  At AWB’s 2008 Legislative Reception and Briefing, you’ll have an opportunity to address these issues face-to-face with legislators, agency directors and fellow AWB members. The event will be held at Saint Martin’s Pavilion on Feb. 6. The cost varies depending on your level of participation.  For more information about attending and to find out about opportunities to be an event sponsor, please contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello at JenniferC@awb.org or (360) 943-1600.

AWB Retro Program safety workshop
Don’t miss the opportunity to increase your safety knowledge and effectiveness in developing and administering safety programs within your company. The AWB Retro Program is offering a four-course safety seminar on Jan.9 in Olympia as part of the Certified Safety Coordinator program. For more information, visit www.awb.org/events/compretro.asp or contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello at JenniferC@awb.org or (360) 943-1600.

Look at the Options to Replace Old Ferries—See This Week’s President’s Perspective at www.awb.org.