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Senate committee advances bill to create wage‑recovery fund for unpaid low‑wage workers
Summary
The Labor and Commerce Committee advanced HB 2479 after testimony from workers and employers; the bill would create a wage recovery program administered by L&I, fund it with civil penalties, allow interim payments up to $2,500, and raise civil penalties for repeat or willful wage violators.
The Washington State Senate Labor and Commerce Committee on Feb. 25 advanced House Bill 2479, a measure to create a wage recovery program to provide prompt payments to low‑wage workers who are owed unpaid wages.
Committee staff told members the bill establishes an account administered by the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) funded by civil penalties collected under the Wage Payment Act. Under the proposal, L&I could disperse funds to eligible workers prior to collection from employers when the employee would otherwise face immediate economic harm. An eligible worker could receive up to 85% of anticipated wages, capped at $2,500 per worker. The program’s eligibility would begin in…
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