[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6120829,"mediaKeyId","2706018-7587d03e6790793456b8cebfab37f941","parentId",2706018,"title","Committee hears bill to let Oregon electrical experience count toward Washington inspector credential","audioSeconds",1089,"startMs",11000,"endMs",1100000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2706018-7587d03e6790793456b8cebfab37f941&start=11&end=1100","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2706018-7587d03e6790793456b8cebfab37f941/thumbnail_11000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6120829/Washington/Committee-hears-bill-to-let-Oregon-electrical-experience-count-toward-Washington-inspector-credential","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120829-a00ae61e324b8c3163a86b7be5ead1e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770753439&Signature=Vewk-rCXoNoJV8mvN3cNTsbXfGPJxAaT4ZkdbbNX9FgjFGZhibVBFvqts8V9DxHVYgIXWU2FIQRo4SAVN~~VyVelB7aKAMXJ~y5BXA7pgjfUUPY7AIAoZo3K7qJQ2RwlmG6GhdcKGZrW5gL2TfapPVKgb94~AfwpwOhWPz-SNFnP6klsHJzwN8Es48R-B~OSMRa0Q8Xn2kO4v9bnmPgZtx~EIfu2RJIXelkY4gqO7VRFP5Z4foOZ0DbR0YsHHF~slvPeZs4NqcSuJ8hjmbjlWHBJmiElhoI1RrB6pw9GkbSnQBz~v9yeFXMMMH83p9V5mpGOC90pXyhs-sOXTbt58A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","House Labor & Workplace Standards","date","2025-03-19T00:00:00Z","article","The Labor & Workplace Standards Committee heard testimony March 19 on Substitute Senate Bill 5265, sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Curtis King (14th Legislative District), which would allow certain out-of-state journey-level electrician experience to count toward Washington electrical inspector qualifications.

Jim Morishima, staff to the committee, told members the bill would add as eligible an individual who \"has a journey level electrician certificate issued by LNI and 8 years of experience installing electrical wiring and equipment, 4 years of which as a journey level electrician in a state that has a reciprocal licensing agreement with Washington.\" He noted that, \"according to the report, only Oregon currently has such a reciprocal agreement.\"

The bill is aimed at addressing a historical shortage of electrical inspectors in cities and counties, Sen. Curtis King said, and was narrowed after stakeholder discussions. \"There has been in the past a shortage of electrical inspectors,\" King said. He told the committee this version focuses on bringing electricians from reciprocal states into the pool of candidates rather than opening broader, multi-state pathways.

Supporters at the hearing said the change would expand the candidate pool and help local governments complete inspections in a timely way. Matthew Hefner, executive director of the Certified Electrical Workers of Washington, said the measure \"doubles the pool of candidates who are eligible to apply for the electrician inspector positions with states that we share reciprocal licensing with\" and urged the committee to pass the bill. Shree Tirunathari, representing the City of Vancouver, told the committee the bill was particularly relevant for border communities that regularly move labor and services across the state line and that additional inspectors would help process housing permits more quickly.

Several unions indicated support for the bill as a pragmatic step to increase qualified inspectors without lowering standards. Testimony noted the bill is a limited step and that broader reciprocity was discussed but scoped down to reach agreement among stakeholders.

The committee took no final action at the hearing. Members suspended and later reopened the hearing on the bill during the same meeting for additional testimony.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Labor & Workplace Standards - 3/19/2025 8:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","The Labor & Workplace Standards Committee heard testimony March 19 on Substitute Senate Bill 5265, sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Curtis King (14th Legislative District), which would allow certain out-of-state journey-level electrician experience to count toward Washington electrical inspector qualifications.","taxTitle","Labor & Workplace Standards, House of Representatives, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20266,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6120812,"Bill would require EVITP-certified electricians to install EV chargers at state facilities",1015,2676000,3691000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2706018-7587d03e6790793456b8cebfab37f941&start=2676&end=3691","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2706018-7587d03e6790793456b8cebfab37f941/thumbnail_2676000.jpg","/articles/6120812/Washington/Bill-would-require-EVITP-certified-electricians-to-install-EV-chargers-at-state-facilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120812-0b66668cdfc866e9cbae0806f299bea9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770753439&Signature=gR22YtpT-KH~69B-hi2fRva83-DsNxhBVycPmlqqHSKFWrrEcoxnoYW7e1goRg9lpMqXgtw~p4ZHsw8kfeXwl8v~pLWh3UNWnoC87kKcyyvYwKlWALiIFVuuk8ICy0Uz388ONPihjYC-uZrZkUHmg4OQC5KAMhSRXBb5Lsuf8Ol5H7xlJq9ycwTi~Fbts8lIqpdXs~gR7Av1paayVo1QKEfArLdNUPyhIwT6cuYUTJAmQ-G9ckPSb95S9cK6aL2Fxh73xi0x1E9s8U3Th7FCAKbdXlGkK05rQ2C~Qw~~1bSkDqck4POlJR9NnSo~-KQd2vMZ~24wXgusns9dUDNJaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee heard testimony March 19 on Substitute Senate Bill 5528, which would require electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) installed at state-owned facilities to be installed by electricians certified by the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) or a similar organization.

Jim Morishima briefed the committee that EVITP is a nonprofit certification program offering a 20-hour online curriculum available to licensed electricians; the program currently costs $275. The bill's requirements would begin Jan. 1, 2026, and would not apply to apprentices supervised by EVITP-certified electricians.

Nicole Grant, a journeyman electrician with IBEW Local 46, and other union witnesses said the training helps protect public safety and the state's investment in charging infrastructure. \"Having EVITP training for electrical equipment installation on state funded projects is a critical step that the state can take to safeguard its assets and ensure public safety,\" Grant said. Bernie Kotlier, international co-chair of EVITP, told the committee EVITP is \"recognized in all 50 states and Canada\" and has trained more than 26,000 electricians; he said EVITP updates its curriculum every three years and requires recertification.

Contractor witnesses and installers supported the training requirement for safety and quality. Vernon Counselor of Oz Electric said the industry is evolving rapidly and higher training standards support infrastructure durability. Several committee members asked why the bill applies only to state-owned facilities rather than publicly funded or private projects; proponents said the narrower scope was an incremental step and could be revisited later.

The committee took no final action; witnesses and staff indicated support for the narrowed bill and expected further discussion on scope and implementation.","The Labor & Workplace Standards Committee heard March 19 on Substitute Senate Bill 5528, which would require electricians installing electric vehicle chargers at state-owned facilities to be certified by the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) or an equivalent program.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6120816,"Bill would require notice before offshoring call centers, bar state grants to offshorers and keep state contracts domestic",138,2028000,2166000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2706018-7587d03e6790793456b8cebfab37f941&start=2028&end=2166","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2706018-7587d03e6790793456b8cebfab37f941/thumbnail_2028000.jpg","/articles/6120816/Washington/Bill-would-require-notice-before-offshoring-call-centers-bar-state-grants-to-offshorers-and-keep-state-contracts-domestic","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120816-e38d71db65c5a9aa941334baf7292ace/orig.mp4?Expires=1770753439&Signature=GXYHbz~OJtEOnNZKrTlFelGvdRX7Gm2HNbY8hgyYKPGGuxnVvYBw8EqJzWpijzphVrZ8iuexdhFkJopFq8kbmTVp~6p5t21ExNKrSsQixFXC36OKqNLL~zgLnWsk4ukZbGARsR0JHLkHNNUZ5hkoUuqgRE~9Y4aKXYnNktJXOaqEbM1iTHS4z0VdRdCzWRmsbx6c~73sSr-Oqx9fi188VUI1-viyuVvdXzrlLNIAjPmXO6vrsTm20qy9u4-4uokml-n4TBY9SYEqnM8gznGdk~9r5Q8HiJJ~vOHdtxBWhtYi-2tQVK259jL~jEB~kL9w3QOGcsfR4g32uro0lGAHoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Labor & Workplace Standards Committee heard testimony March 19 on Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5459, which would impose notice requirements and funding penalties on call center employers that relocate operations from Washington to a foreign country and require state contracts for call-center services to be performed entirely within the United States.

Ben McCarthy, staff to the committee, outlined the bill's three core provisions: a requirement that covered call-center employers provide the state 120 days' notice before relocating operations to a foreign country; ineligibility for state grants or loans for five years for employers who have relocated operations to a foreign country (with a narrow waiver available if denial would cause substantial job loss in Washington or environmental harm); and a requirement that call-center services contracted for by state agencies be performed entirely within the United States (excluding interpreter services). The bill applies to call-center operators with 50 or more employees or to employers with 50 or more employees who work an aggregate of 1,500 hours per week (excluding overtime). The bill creates a civil penalty up to $10,000 per day for failure to provide the required notice, subject to commissioner discretion in declared emergencies.

Union and worker witnesses urged committee members to pass the bill. Christine Reid of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 77 said SB 5459 is \"crucial in ensuring that our hardworking community members are not left vulnerable and blindsided by job relocations.\" Eileen Nicks, a call-center employee at Lumen and a member of Communications Workers of America Local 7800, testified that call-center jobs in Washington provide family-supporting wages and that companies often move work to lower-wage countries. Crystal Rivas of CWA Local 37083 said recent closings by Wells Fargo, Concentrix and Windstream showed how closures move jobs to countries with weaker labor standards and worse service for customers.

Committee members asked technical questions about scope. Representative Schmidt confirmed the bill's protections apply only when operations move outside the United States and not to moves within the U.S. The committee took no final action at the hearing.","Engrossed substitute SB 5459 would require 120 days' notice before Washington call centers relocate operations to a foreign country, make employers who relocate ineligible for state grants or loans for five years, and require state-contracted call center work to be performed within the United States; unions and call-center workers urged passage",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6120821,"Bill would expand pregnancy accommodations, require paid lactation breaks and add parental jury excusal; AG warns of enforcement change",651,1305000,1956000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2706018-7587d03e6790793456b8cebfab37f941&start=1305&end=1956","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2706018-7587d03e6790793456b8cebfab37f941/thumbnail_1305000.jpg","/articles/6120821/Washington/Bill-would-expand-pregnancy-accommodations-require-paid-lactation-breaks-and-add-parental-jury-excusal-AG-warns-of-enforcement-change","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120821-c18ad80d100beb9511193a5c69ce6d34/orig.mp4?Expires=1770753439&Signature=c1vNnNl4Rj2rMHXImdrHDBhLpYxTvmdPaNkoPsJp4f-Wu8ybK4k2hWglh1h3Js2~n-szuzGQUNxPKYGSGCBVCiYPP5SZC6aoHxNUzThMCoVtZYpWjexPSSHe7xUm8apxE-dmG8ZnGj6Wuqe8UzuzKNHZumtf1SZrfIwqFXfFV7I3RU5LFYcrOuZowaxgMBacW0Dz4o-GVKnH0NeqqrD4Qui6ov2qqlKLn4biH~QwHSIwscsR8VCkrogUPNNSeuINtBsOr23WoluaV8gyFcVXBmakvCoknVktogp1AbseJmMtj2i3tl8~Ain010GvM7jWpyDfa0ykbYyJUzS-oMOJXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Labor & Workplace Standards Committee heard testimony March 19 on Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5217, which would expand workplace accommodations for pregnancy-related conditions, require paid lactation break and travel time, transfer enforcement authority from the Attorney General's Office to the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), and create a process for delay or excusal from jury service for parents of young infants.

Kelly Leonard, committee staff, summarized current law and the bill. Under current law an employer with 15 or more employees must make reasonable accommodations for pregnancy-related conditions unless doing so creates an undue hardship; the bill would extend the accommodations requirement to any employer with one or more employees and to nonprofit religious organizations. The bill would require break times and any travel to a private location for lactation to be paid at the employee's regular rate; those breaks cannot be required to be taken as paid leave and are in addition to Industrial Welfare Act meal and rest periods. The bill moves enforcement authority for these provisions from the Attorney General's Office to L&I and directs L&I to attempt in good faith to reach agreements on reasonable accommodations before issuing any orders. L&I orders restraining conditions are capped at 90 calendar days unless a court order extends them; L&I may assess civil penalties for violations.

Supporters testified SB 5217 would protect pregnant and postpartum workers. Nancy Sapero, representing a coalition including the Washington Employment Lawyers Association, the Washington State Labor Council and MomsRising, said the bill \"ensures every pregnant and postpartum worker, regardless of their employer size, is entitled to reasonable accommodations on the job.\" Nancy Sapero also said the bill \"takes model language\" to require paid pumping breaks.

Multiple parents described practical burdens with jury duty while breastfeeding. Ellie Klein of PuPs described being summoned six weeks after returning to work and detailed unsanitary and inadequate lactation facilities during jury service, saying the experience showed \"the profound lack of awareness, support, and respect for breastfeeding jurors.\" Brooke Iverson described having to pump in dirty restrooms or in a delivery truck when workplace accommodations were not provided.

Shalia Stallings and Ala e Lima of the Attorney General's Office said the AGO supports the underlying policy but strongly objects to the bill's repeal of AGO enforcement authority. Stallings told the committee AGO civil-rights staff have specialized experience enforcing pregnancy-accommodation law, prioritize these cases with urgency and have secured remedies and training for workers. \"We're concerned that repealing our enforcement will put the safety at risk for the millions of workers who are currently covered by the Healthy Starts Act,\" she said, and urged changes that preserve AGO enforcement while stabilizing funding.

The committee heard no final action at the hearing. Supporters asked the House committee to pass the bill and AGO requested changes to preserve its enforcement role.","Engrossed second substitute SB 5217 would extend pregnancy-related accommodation protections to all employers, require paid lactation break and travel time, shift enforcement from the Attorney General's Office to L&I, and create a jury excusal/delay for parents of young infants; the Attorney General's Office urged retaining its enforcement role",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":81,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6120825,"Committee hears proposal to create statewide boiler-operator certification program",3436,255000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2706018-7587d03e6790793456b8cebfab37f941&start=255&end=3691","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2706018-7587d03e6790793456b8cebfab37f941/thumbnail_255000.jpg","/articles/6120825/Washington/Committee-hears-proposal-to-create-statewide-boiler-operator-certification-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120825-1dfdc340c2eb66cb6b32632b649f5f40/orig.mp4?Expires=1770753439&Signature=Z6Udt4eC0N7L8n8uCq9-JqOic98X1CmZD6Cb7YiaVT3aO2gCaKsCT8Fy3MsEWzT9KBq5D2w6KGwbrb0Swp-qkFGITl4pKW0dJhB~y3FkBvM~09V-RzjvKgBWbWvZTFuAGBOnB5E1TNgiiIzCUD7b5ZMIq5FrqAKKSoHgr7WXNXtNFyfuCIdQxwdvRiJ-boebf0qUN-q451gbggA1nltYthxP~Vje3hXRpkB1bCPnjPp7QQiwHtaoy5aoAWLWqUT9GKbL9wDCltPz7Uoc5weUMZxMGJprDZuSWNCzBfwlq2V347qG38IrS4ozIqVJNpy4cAUyABFPFeF4AR09eCvyqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Labor & Workplace Standards Committee heard testimony March 19 on engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5694, which would establish a state boiler operator certification program administered by the Department of Labor and Industries (LNI) and the Washington State Board of Boiler Rules.

Jim Morishima, committee staff, summarized the bill: it \"establishes a state operator certification program administered by LNI and the board of boiler rules\" and makes it unlawful to operate a boiler without a certification issued by LNI. The bill creates five levels of certification (level 1 requiring the most education and experience and level 5 the least), allows applicants who meet education and experience requirements to take an examination, and permits LNI to contract with a nationally recognized testing agency to administer the exam. The bill would allow locally certified operators to remain certified for the first year of the program and would permit LNI to issue temporary permits to out-of-state operators while they apply for state certification.

Sen. Curtis King, the sponsor, said the measure is \"about safety\" and \"about standards, which we currently don't have in the state of Washington,\" adding that boilers \"can put our citizens and the people in the facilities where those boilers are being used, at risk\" if not operated correctly.

Larry Kratz, a field representative for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302, testified that boilers are widespread — in schools, hospitals, airports and the capitol — and that certification programs in Seattle, Tacoma and Spokane protect public safety. \"Outside of these 3 jurisdictions in the state of Washington, boiler operators are not required to be certified regardless of the size of the boiler they operate,\" Kratz said, and he called a statewide program a safety fix.

Sofia Steele of the Western States Petroleum Association testified in writing to note that refineries already maintain rigorous, site-specific training systems for operators and thanked the committee for amendments exempting refineries and similar facilities. Committee staff noted the bill exempts several industries from certification requirements, including refineries, organic chemical manufacturers, petrochemical manufacturers and biomass energy producers.

Tammy Fown of the Department of Labor and Industries told the committee L&I \"hasn't found data that would suggest one way or the other whether a certification improves safety,\" but said training is important and that boilers \"can be really dangerous if done improperly.\" Committee staff and witnesses described procedural components: LNI may levy penalties of up to $500 per violation; revocations or denials are subject to notice and appeal with hearings before the board of boiler rules; revocations or denials may follow fraud, incompetence, or violations of laws or rules; and consistent with federal law LNI must suspend a certification for nonpayment of child support.

No final committee action was taken at the hearing. Sponsor and stakeholders indicated they expect amendments and additional work with LNI on rulemaking.","A substitute bill would require state certification, five experience/education levels, temporary permits for out-of-state operators, limited exemptions for certain industries and penalties for violations; witnesses split on scope and whether the change demonstrably improves safety","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears bill to let Oregon electrical experience count toward Washington inspector credential

Bill would require EVITP-certified electricians to install EV chargers at state facilities

Bill would require notice before offshoring call centers, bar state grants to offshorers and keep state contracts domestic

Bill would expand pregnancy accommodations, require paid lactation breaks and add parental jury excusal; AG warns of enforcement change

Committee hears proposal to create statewide boiler-operator certification program