Don't miss AWB's annual Legislative Reception
Where do your legislators stand on the issues that are important to you and your business? How will they deal with important issues like transportation, tax fairness, health care, workers' comp and unemployment insurance? Learn about those issues and more at the AWB 2008 Legislative Reception on Feb. 6. The event begins at 9 a.m. and will feature Gov. Chris Gregoire as the lunchtime speaker. AWB's board will meet in the afternoon. To register or become a sponsor, please see www.awb.org/events/legreception.asp   or contact AWB's Jennifer Costello at JenniferC@awb.org   or (360) 943-1600.

State faces unsettling $2.5 billion shortfall by 2013
As reported in our Olympia Business Watch blog last week, projections from the nonpartisan Senate Ways and Means Committee show that the state budget will fall $937 million in the red by the end of the next biennium in 2011. Underscoring the dangerous spending trajectory, the committee forecasts a general fund shortfall of $2.5 billion by the end of the 2011-2013 biennium. Read the post and link to related stories here: http://www.olympiabusinesswatch.com/2008/01/six-year-budget.html .

AWB opposes weakening vesting rights
HB 3202 and SB 6784 would change Washington's real property vesting laws, which have served us well for more than 50 years. Currently, a landowner's development rights vest upon submission of a completed application for a building or subdivision permit. This damaging legislation would move the vesting date back to when a local jurisdiction “takes final action” on a landowner's application, including any and all appeals. SB 6784 was heard on Jan. 28 in the Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee; HB 3202 was heard on Jan. 29 in the House Local Government Committee. AWB expressed strong opposition to this harmful legislation in two separate panels with AWB members. To further our opposition, AWB also sent a coalition letter with more than a dozen member organizations to committee members and legislative leaders outlining our position and arguments against this legislation. For more information, see this recent Olympia Business Watch posting: http://www.olympiabusinesswatch.com/2008/02/awb-explains-op.html . For more information, contact AWB's Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600 or ChrisM@awb.org .

With AWB's prompting, Puget Sound Partnership agrees to stay the course
AWB Vice President of Governmental Affairs Gary Chandler recently wrote Puget Sound Partnership Executive Director David Dicks and Leadership Council Chair William Ruckelshaus expressing AWB's concern with legislative efforts this session to modify the powers and duties of the partnership. Chandler's letter specified concerns with legislation that would grant regulatory authority to the partnership and prematurely require “action agenda” items — work currently being done by the Action Areas, Ecosystem Coordination Board and Leadership Council. Chandler asked the PSP to publicly oppose any such legislation. AWB was pleased with the Partnership's Feb 1 response and looks forward to working with the Partnership during the creation of the 2020 Action Agenda. For more information and to view the letters, please see: http://www.olympiabusinesswatch.com/2008/02/awb-wants-puget.html or contact AWB's Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600 or ChrisM@awb.org .

Important hearing on Brinks decision
The Washington Supreme Court's recent Brinks decision has created uncertainty for businesses that allow employees to commute in company vehicles. SB 6867 and HB 3294 would address the liability faced by these companies. Employer representatives were working with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, the governor's office and the labor unions on a bipartisan solution, but the unions withdrew from the discussions, citing the Brinks decision as a “win” for their members. With labor opposition, these bills face an uphill climb. A hearing on SB 6867 is scheduled on Feb. 5. For more information, see this week's President's Perspective (listed at the bottom of this Fast Facts ) or contact AWB's Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org .

Make your voice heard on pro-competitive agricultural industry bill
In addition to the Brinks bill described above, other pro-competitive employment law bills are being heard this week, including HB 2717, which would align state and federal overtime laws in the agricultural industry. For this important bill to move out of committee, the committee needs to hear from you before the Feb. 8 cutoff date. For more information, contact AWB's Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@AWB.org .

Job-killing punitive damages bill to be heard Wednesday
The Senate Judiciary Committee will be hearing Senate Bill 6614 this Feb. 6 at 3:30 p.m. SB 6614 introduces punitive damages into Washington civil law in a big way. It provides for the unlimited recovery of punitive damages in any kind of civil lawsuit based upon a very low burden of proof. Curiously, the bill would also allow the state to confiscate 50 percent of a punitive damages award from a successful plaintiff and allocate 25 percent to DSHS and 25 percent to the Department of Corrections to fund various programs. Washington is one of the few states that does not award punitive damages and, for that reason, our judicial system has been compared favorably with other states. The availability of punitive damages and plaintiff-friendly courts turns states into what the American Tort Reform Association has called “judicial hellholes.” We don't want this to happen in Washington. AWB urges you to e-mail your legislator today to express your opposition to SB 6614 and what it would do to our state's business climate.  For more information, contact Kris Tefft at KrisT@AWB.org

AWB's supports bills that clarify and ensure fairness of municipal B&O taxes.
HB 3244 and its companion, SB 6894, clarify the definition of customer location so that local B&O taxes can be fairly collected and apportioned. AWB has arranged a public hearing about HB 3244 on Feb. 5 at 10:00 a.m. in the House Finance Committee. AWB has also asked the governor's office to become involved in this bill because of its statewide importance. Another AWB-supported B&O bill, HB 3327, states that a city with a population of more than 500,000 may not adopt an ordinance that places a burden on the taxpayer, such as a square footage tax, that contradicts the legislative intent of promoting uniformity established in HB 2030 from the 2003 session. For more information, contact AWB's Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org .

AWB opposes union-approved UI apprenticeship expansion
The House Commerce and Labor Committee heard testimony last week on HB 2967, which would expand unemployment insurance to individuals who leave their jobs to enroll in a union-approved apprenticeship program. AWB opposes this legislation and its attempt to draw individuals from active employment into labor-approved apprenticeships, thereby socializing the cost of the labor-directed training among employers. For more information, contact AWB's Donna Steward at (360) 943-1600 or DonnaS@awb.org .

AWB opposes bill that opens tax records for all to see
If passed, SB 6440 would amend the existing excise tax secrecy clause—an important law that prohibits Department of Revenue employees from disclosing excise tax returns or tax information about specific taxpayers to unauthorized persons. Passage of this bill would also allow members of both committee and caucus staff to receive tax information from DOR. AWB testified in opposition to this bill because it puts taxpayer's confidential information at risk. For more information, contact AWB's Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org .

Unfavorable employment law bills heard and moving forward
Last week, the House Commerce and Labor committee passed HB 3305 and implemented the Paid Family Leave Insurance program. Today, the Senate Labor, Commerce, Research and Development committee did the same with its companion, SB 6280. The House also heard HB 2142, which attempts to define and prohibit “workplace bullying.” HB 2142 is expected to move out of committee this week. Also heard today in the Senate was SB 6835, which would extend collective bargaining rights to small Washington businesses not covered by federal labor law. For more information on these and other employment law bills, contact AWB's Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@AWB.org .

Mixed bag in workers' compensation bills
The House and Senate labor committees have recently heard a mixed bag of workers' compensation bills, including cost-increasing trial lawyer proposals like SB 6750 and HB 3139, which would require the Department of Labor and Industries and employers to pay benefits while appealing questionable claims. The House also heard HB 2980, prohibiting employers or L&I representatives from speaking with a claimant's health care providers without approval from the claimant's lawyer. On the positive side, the House heard HB 2233, prohibiting the diversion of workers' comp trust funds for non-workers' comp purposes. The two committees are also hearing HB 3255 and SB 6839, which address the problem of double payment of workers' comp premiums when Washington employers send workers out of state. For more information, contact AWB's Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@AWB.org .

Labor dispute compensation being fought by AWB
HB 2769 and its companion, SB 6327, will allow individuals impacted by a lockout during a strike to access unemployment insurance benefits. AWB testified in opposition to this legislation. During a recent meeting with House leadership, Speaker Frank Chopp said the House bill is not expected to move, but we will continue to monitor the Senate bill. For more information, contact AWB's Donna Steward at (360) 943-1600 or DonnaS@awb.org .

Waiting week suspension not a good idea
HB 2626 allows the governor to waive the waiting week for individuals who miss work due to a natural disaster. AWB supports those who are adversely impacted by natural disasters, but we have learned that granting waiver authority jeopardizes federal matching dollars provided during the first week of an extended benefit period. During testimony on the legislation, AWB offered to work with the bill's sponsor to develop an alternative for providing support to victims while preserving access to federal funds. For more information, contact AWB's Donna Steward at (360) 943-1600 or DonnaS@awb.org .

Members-only legislative updates available upon request
Over the weekend, AWB's governmental affairs staff put together key issue summaries on legislation dealing with energy, climate change, taxes, health care, human resources, and education issues. There's much more our members can learn about what's important in Olympia and what it means to you. For more information, contact AWB's Richard Davis at (360) 943-1600 or RichardD@awb.org .

Safety and health grant dollars available—apply now!
The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries is now accepting applications for the Safety and Health Investment Project (SHIP) program grant dollars. This program will provide funding for safety and health projects in workplaces covered by the medical aid fund. Priority is given to projects involving accident prevention through cooperation between employers and employees. L&I has $8 million to give to public and private employers, trade associations, business associations and other qualified recipients. Applications and more information can be found on L&I's Web site: http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Topics/AtoZ/Grants/default.asp . For more information, please contact Grant Nelson, AWB's representative on the SHIP Advisory Committee at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

AWB making waves with podcasts
With more than 400 recorded downloads, AWB's new podcasts are a big success. Along with AWB.org, our Olympia Business Watch blog, Washington Business magazine, FastFacts and regular informative e-mails, podcasts are another way that AWB is connecting you with important business news. You can find AWB's podcast center here: http://awborg.libsyn.com .

Emergency planning and disaster management seminar Feb. 26—is your business prepared?
Emergencies and disasters strike when we least expect them. The best defense is to be prepared. Attend AWB's one-day seminar and learn how to prepare survival plans and adapt them to any type of disaster. For more information, contact Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferC@awb.org and see www.awb.org/events/seminars/emergencyplanning.asp .

New Employment Law Deskbook available
The Washington Employment Law Deskbook is a key reference guide to legal issues facing Washington employers, offering sample policies, solutions and easy-to-understand guidelines. Contact Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600 or Jenniferc@awb.org   to order your copy.

Court ruling costly to employees and taxpayers — See this week's President's Perspec tive at www.awb.org