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House approves workforce-services bill allowing limited data sharing and extending TANF education eligibility
Summary
The House passed HB65 on Feb. 20, 2015. Sponsor Representative Edwards said the bill allows limited sharing of DWS audit information with the state's wage-and-hour division to identify employers who misclassify workers and removes a 24-month limit on certain TANF education benefits to conform with a 36-month federal standard; the bill passed 65–3.
Representative Janice Edwards, sponsor of House Bill 65, told the House on Feb. 20 that the bill makes two principal changes: limited data sharing by the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) to the state wage-and-hour division to identify employers who misclassify workers, and removal of a 24‑month limit on education-related supports in the TANF family employment program to align state law with a 36‑month federal standard.
Edwards described the data-sharing provision as narrowly tailored: only employers who have misclassified workers and then failed to correct the situation after a probationary period will be reported, and the information shared is limited to the employer's name and contact information, the total number of misclassified workers, and an aggregate amount of misclassified wages. The bill also requires an annual report to the Legislature’s interim committee on the measure’s effectiveness and includes a three‑year sunset for the data-sharing authority.
Representative Oda, who served on the committee that vetted the bill, said she had concerns about information flowing to the federal government but supported the measure after changes added the sunset and other safeguards. "The 3 year sunset gives the workforce services division a chance to work it out with our state department of labor," Oda said.
Edwards said the TANF change would remove the 24‑month cap from the family employment program so parents could receive education supports that fit within the federal 36‑month limit, increasing the chance participants complete degrees or technical certificates.
After limited floor discussion and a waived summation, the House opened voting and passed the third substitute of HB65 by a roll-call tally of 65 yes and 3 no. The bill will be referred to the Senate for consideration.
What happens next: HB65 will be transmitted to the Senate for its consideration; DWS must prepare the annual report specified in the bill and implement the data-sharing procedures within the three‑year trial period.
