Good news as 90 percent of Washington high school seniors meet WASL reading and writing standards
Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson announced last week that 90 percent of this year’s high school seniors passed the reading and writing portions of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning. “This is a moment we’ve been waiting to celebrate for more than a decade.” Bergeson said. “For the first time ever, we know that the students leaving our high schools have the reading and writing skills they need to succeed in their lives, no matter what paths they choose.” There has been a lot of criticism and controversy over the WASL, but AWB has firmly supported it, acknowledging that, although it may not be perfect, the test is a step in the right direction. As Bergeson stated, it’s the first time Washington’s seniors have graduated with a documented and proven skill set that shows how they are ready for college, vocational programs or careers in a competitive, global economy. It is also an excellent measure of teacher and school district performance. For more information, please see AWB’s Olympia Business Watch blog.

AWB’s Amber Carter discussing new destination-based sales tax on Comcast Newsmakers
AWB’s Amber Carter recently appeared on the cable program Comcast Newsmakers to discuss implementation of the new destination-based sales tax with newscaster Tony Ventrella. This new tax, which affects many consumers and online retailers, will take effect in Washington on July 1. For more information, please watch Amber’s interview with Tony on AWB’s YouTube page and review what this new tax means to you and your business on the Department of Revenue’s Web site. Automated and affordable destination-based sales tax software solutions for small businesses are also available at www.GotSST.com, the Web site for one of AWB’s newest members. Other member providers of solutions for sales tax compliance who would like other members to know about their products can contact Amber Carter at AmberC@awb.org or (360) 943-1600.

Watch out for tax hikes as state agencies groan about budget woes and cutbacks
Now that gasoline has reached more than $4 per gallon in most places, state and local agency managers are cracking down on unnecessary travel and encouraging alternatives to commuting alone. “As we are painfully aware, gas prices seem to reach a new record high every day,” said Office of Financial Management Director Victor Moore, according to a recent article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. “These higher costs are putting strains on state budgets. We need to do whatever possible to save fuel and control these costs.” Moore recommended car-pooling, combining trips and careful evaluations of the need for auto travel. These are all great ways of cutting back, but taxpayers need to be wary as more noise and news of budget woes come from state agencies. With a $2.5 billion shortfall already projected for the coming biennium, rising gas costs and calls for increased spending compound budget challenges for the next legislative session. Explore this issue more thoroughly on AWB’s Olympia Business Watch blog.

New opportunities for students of all ages to ‘check out a college’
Washington’s community and technical college system has created a colorful new Web site full of fun and insightful career aptitude tests, occupational outlook information, career profiles, financial aid and links to more information on Washington’s colleges. This site is a great resource for students of any age who would like to explore their unique potential, advance their education, increase their employment opportunities or make sure they are on the right track. Check it out here: www.Checkoutacollege.com.

Puget Sound Partnership seeks AWB member input on Puget Sound goods and services
Puget Sound Partnership Executive Director David Dicks and Leadership Council Chair Bill Ruckelshaus recently contacted AWB seeking information that will assist in the creation of the Puget Sound Partnership’s 2020 Action Agenda. In reaching out to a wide range of stakeholders, the intent is to quantify the economic benefit gained by goods and services provided by the Puget Sound ecosystem. Specifically, PSP has requested assistance in identifying five to 10 ecosystem goods and services (e.g. food, water, timber, recreation) that contribute to business and industry’s well being and interest in the region. If you would like to contribute, please forward your suggestions to AWB’s Chris McCabe at ChrisM@awb.org or at (360) 943-1600.

AWB urges members to join in upcoming health care reform discussions
Are you concerned by the direction that health care reform is taking in Washington? Do you dread increased and prohibitive business taxes for government-run health care programs? Would you like to learn more about our state’s recent health care reform proposals and find out how you can influence them? If so, plan to attend one of the upcoming community discussions hosted by the Healthy Washington Coalition beginning next month. The coalition was largely responsible for passage of SB 6333, legislation that requires an in-depth analysis of four identified health care reform proposals, including three government-administered systems that would institute new employer-paid taxes on all Washington business owners. The first discussion is on June 19 in Seattle, and the rest will proceed as follows: Tacoma on July 1, Yakima on July 15, Spokane on July 29, Bellevue on Aug. 12, Everett on Sept. 9, and Vancouver on Sept. 13. For more information, please contact AWB’s Donna Steward or DonnaS@awb.org or (360) 943-1600.

L&I adopts final outdoor heat stress rule
Last Wednesday, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries filed its permanent rule on outdoor heat-related illness. In addition to requiring employers to provide training to employees and supervisors regarding heat-related illness, the rule mandates that employees be relieved from duty if they are demonstrating symptoms of heat-related illness. Employers must maintain sufficient supplies of water or other acceptable beverages and include heat-related illness a part of their accident prevention plans. AWB maintained throughout the rulemaking process that the new rule was unnecessary, but worked with L&I on a number of improvements to the regulation, including an exemption for incidental exposure, removing a requirement to maintain temperature records and making employees responsible for monitoring their own personal health and response to warm temperatures. The rule will be in effect annually from May 1 through Sept. 30. A copy of the adopted rule, schedule of public hearings, concise explanatory statement and more are located on L & I’s Web site. For more information, please contact AWB’s Grant Nelson at GrantN@awb.org or (360) 943-1600.

Safety and Health Investment Projects grants being approved
AWB is participating on the Department of Labor and Industries’ SHIP advisory committee, which is assisting the agency in reviewing and approving grant applications for projects that prevent injuries, save lives and educate workers and employers about workplace hazards. L&I has approved three grant applications to date. Members interested in obtaining more information on the SHIP program and learning how to apply for grant dollars are encouraged to visit L&I’s Web site or contact AWB’s Grant Nelson at GrantN@awb.org or (360) 943-1600.

AWB Energy Committee meeting scheduled for June 25
AWB’s Energy Committee will meet on June 25 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in AWB’s Small Business Conference Room. Agenda items will include a discussion of AWB’s energy policy legislative agenda for the 2009 and 2010 legislative sessions and corresponding changes to our energy-related legislative objectives. A complete agenda is forthcoming. A call-in number will be available for those who wish to participate by telephone. Please contact Connie Grande at ConnieGr@awb.org or at (360) 943-1600 for the number and pass code.

Managing Leaves of Absence Seminar taking place on June 25 at the Seattle Airport Marriott
The Family and Medical Leave Act presents more compliance headaches than almost any other law affecting the workplace. It remains an extremely difficult and frustrating law for employers to administer, and it creates several traps that can lead to employer liability. Much is changing in the law: the Department of Labor is considering revisions to the FMLA while the Washington Legislature has passed several new leave laws in recent sessions. This seminar will cover these state and federal leave requirements, as well as the interplay of these laws with your company’s own leave plans and policies. We’ll sort through the confusion and ambiguity and help you identify what you must do now, what may not be required just yet but you still should do, and what is likely to change in the future. To register, please contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello at JenniferC@awb.org or  (360) 943-1600, or click here to view the full agenda and register online.

Washington Policy Center’s annual transportation event coming soon — don’t miss it!
The Center for Transportation researches and analyzes best practices for relieving traffic congestion while focusing on reducing structural barriers that drive up costs, linking congestion relief with spending, improving accountability and transparency with the Department of Transportation and other local, state and federal transportation agencies. On June 17, the center, along with AWB, are hosting their Annual Transportation Event at the Harbor Club in downtown Seattle from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Dr. Ron Utt from The Heritage Foundation will discuss traffic congestion issues as the event’s breakfast keynote speaker. Admission is $25 per person and is sure to sell out quickly, so please enroll as soon as possible. For more information, please check out the center’s event page.

Be an AWB Policy Summit sponsor
AWB’s Policy Summit is being held Sept. 24-26 at Semiahmoo Resort. As a sponsor, your company receives acknowledgement before, during and following the event in marketing materials, signage and in AWB’s Washington Business magazine. Display opportunities are also available. Contact AWB’s Jennifer Davis at JenniferD@awb.org or click here for more information.

Order your copy of the 2008 Washington Employment Law Deskbook
The 2008 Washington Employment Law Deskbook (17th Edition) is a key reference guide to legal issues facing Washington employers. The reference guide offers sample policies, solutions and easy-to-understand guidelines. Each book comes with a searchable CD-ROM for quick access to specific topics. Contact Jennifer Costello at Jenniferc@awb.org or (360) 943-1600, or click here to order online.

Simplify your job with the updated Human Resources File Cabinet Handbook
This comprehensive, plain-English guide is designed to assist Washington employers in preparing, revising and reviewing employee business forms. The Human Resource File Cabinet (Sixth Edition) will help you create and maintain accurate human resources files with minimal time and effort. The handbook includes all the human resources forms you will need from pre-employment to termination with detailed instructions on how to use and maintain each form. Contact Jennifer Costello at Jenniferc@awb.org or (360) 943-1600, or click here to order online.

Tax policy should recognize growing trees is a risky business — See this week’s President’s Perspective at www.awb.org

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