WFIA Off the Shelf Podcast

‍

Week 3 began on January 24th, and bills seem to be moving along! This week we continued our Day (Session) at the Capitol event where several of our members met with their local legislators to discuss the 2022 session priorities affecting the industry! Additionally, Tammie Hetrick, WFIA President & CEO updates our members on the Long Term Healthcare Plan bill (HB 1732) which passed the Senate and was signed by the Governor last week! Tammie also updates our members on the Unemployment Insurance/Voluntary Quits bill (HB 1486), Ergonomics bill (HB 1837), Industrial Insurance Appeals bill (SB5801), Workers' Compensation Exam Rights bill (SB 5627 / HB 1763), and several more bills.

Our member, Tyler Myers with The Myers Group testified last week on Careers in Retail in support of (HB 2019). You can view the testimony using the link below. Thank you to all of our members who testified last week on other issues that WFIA is supporting/opposing that affect the industry and our members.

1
00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:05,200
[tammie_hetrick]: High and welcome to Washington food industry associations

2
00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:10,160
[tammie_hetrick]: Off the shelf podcast, and we are going to talk about week three of

3
00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:11,520
[tammie_hetrick]: legislative session,

4
00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:17,760
[tammie_hetrick]: So a lot happened this week. Um. long term care update House Bill Seventeen,

5
00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:22,640
[tammie_hetrick]: thirty two passed the Senate and was signed by the Governor. This bill went

6
00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:26,480
[tammie_hetrick]: into effect immediately, which means there iss an eighteen month delay in

7
00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:30,880
[tammie_hetrick]: any collection or enforcement of the long term care. So if you been

8
00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:35,600
[tammie_hetrick]: deducting wages, Uh, you can now reimburse the workers. This is done for

9
00:00:35,620 --> 00:00:36,620
[tammie_hetrick]: eighteen months.

10
00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:40,000
[tammie_hetrick]: Ah, we had quite a few labor bills that were heard.

11
00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:44,160
[tammie_hetrick]: first, one, fourteen, eighty six, House bill fourteen, eighty six

12
00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:49,440
[tammie_hetrick]: unemployment insurance, voluntary. ▁quits, We opposed this bill, Uh, mainly

13
00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:53,840
[tammie_hetrick]: because it would add additional voluntary. ▁quit reasons such as for child

14
00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:58,400
[tammie_hetrick]: and shift changes that don't work for the employee to the state's

15
00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:02,720
[tammie_hetrick]: unemployment insurance statutes. This is very concerning to W f A. because

16
00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:07,600
[tammie_hetrick]: the U. A trust fund is still not up to prepndemic levels, and employers are

17
00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:12,560
[tammie_hetrick]: still facing the potential for large tax increases. Voluntary. ▁quits are

18
00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:16,080
[tammie_hetrick]: not something employers can control, and therefore should not be subject to

19
00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:20,640
[tammie_hetrick]: unemployment insurance, which is for being out of work through no fault of

20
00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:25,920
[tammie_hetrick]: your own Bill is on and on the floor of Houseer Representatives, pending a

21
00:01:25,700 --> 00:01:26,700
[tammie_hetrick]: vote.

22
00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:32,400
[tammie_hetrick]: Hospital, Spll, eighteen, thirty seven errgonomics say back. This bill

23
00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:36,560
[tammie_hetrick]: repals the twenty year prohibition against Ellinois doing rules governing

24
00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:41,280
[tammie_hetrick]: ergonomics, W f. I. A members were hit hard by these rules when they were

25
00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:45,520
[tammie_hetrick]: adopted and worked hard to pass the initiative that repealed these. The bill

26
00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:49,760
[tammie_hetrick]: passed out of the House Labor and Work Force replaced Standards Committee,

27
00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:53,760
[tammie_hetrick]: and is in rules. This will be a battle to fight on the floor, since

28
00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,680
[tammie_hetrick]: legislators will say they really aren't doing anything other than going

29
00:01:57,920 --> 00:01:59,040
[tammie_hetrick]: against the will of the people.

30
00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:05,040
[tammie_hetrick]: So more to come on that one, Uh Sen, a bill fifty eight, Oh one industrial

31
00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:10,480
[tammie_hetrick]: insurance appeals, Ah, we've strongly opposed this one as well. This bill

32
00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:14,560
[tammie_hetrick]: would require employers to pay the cost of workers Compa pills. if they

33
00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:19,280
[tammie_hetrick]: lose. This goes against a basis of workers comp, which is to keep claim

34
00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:24,240
[tammie_hetrick]: costs within the scope of the premiums paid by employers and employees. The

35
00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:28,320
[tammie_hetrick]: bill is still in Senate Labor Committee, but is expected to move out of the

36
00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:32,000
[tammie_hetrick]: committee next week. We'll keep you updated on that one.

37
00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:38,880
[tammie_hetrick]: Also Senate bill fifty, six, twenty seven, and companion bill, House Bills

38
00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:44,320
[tammie_hetrick]: seventeen, sixty three, Workers comp exam rights, this bill would allow a

39
00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:48,720
[tammie_hetrick]: worker to video or audio tape anye peendent medical exams, leading to

40
00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:52,960
[tammie_hetrick]: doctors refusing to do these exams. The department estimates that the cost

41
00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:57,440
[tammie_hetrick]: of the worker comp system and an increased time loss in delays would be

42
00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:01,360
[tammie_hetrick]: anywhere from two hundred to five hundred million over a four year period.

43
00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:04,240
[tammie_hetrick]: So again we are strongly opposing this,

44
00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:11,360
[tammie_hetrick]: Also, Sen. a bill, five, five, five, nine, A paid sickly verification,

45
00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:16,960
[tammie_hetrick]: W f A is opposing this. This bill would prohibit any employer from asking

46
00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:21,840
[tammie_hetrick]: for a note for over three days out for sick of any employee that has not

47
00:03:21,920 --> 00:03:25,280
[tammie_hetrick]: provided at least eighty five percent of their health care premium by the

48
00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:29,520
[tammie_hetrick]: employer. This would impact part time employees who often do not earn the

49
00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:33,360
[tammie_hetrick]: hours to be provided health care in addition to the thousands of businesses

50
00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:37,520
[tammie_hetrick]: who are not subject to a C A mandates and cannot find affordable health

51
00:03:37,660 --> 00:03:38,660
[tammie_hetrick]: insurance in the state

52
00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:45,120
[tammie_hetrick]: again. We have Senate bill Fifty six forty nine. This is the paid family

53
00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:50,320
[tammie_hetrick]: leave bill. I've been working very closely on this. I serve on the paid

54
00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:54,720
[tammie_hetrick]: family leave advisory committee. I have talked about this before we were

55
00:03:55,280 --> 00:04:01,280
[tammie_hetrick]: shocked to hear that that fund is insolvent. Uh, at no time has E s D

56
00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:07,520
[tammie_hetrick]: informed us of that until they did a presentation to the legislature. Uh, so

57
00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:09,280
[tammie_hetrick]: we have worked on this bill

58
00:04:10,260 --> 00:04:11,260
[tammie_hetrick]: to

59
00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:13,440
[tammie_hetrick]: really add a lot of

60
00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:20,080
[tammie_hetrick]: I guess um. sideboards, to make sure that they're held accountable, we've

61
00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:26,720
[tammie_hetrick]: asked for an actuary report, Um, we asked for an audit of claims,

62
00:04:27,840 --> 00:04:34,240
[tammie_hetrick]: and Uh, also, just to get some clarity on what they're doing at E. S. D were

63
00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:38,880
[tammie_hetrick]: very disappointed again in another program that they manage that they are

64
00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:44,320
[tammie_hetrick]: not managing properly, So we're supporting some components of that, but we

65
00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:49,520
[tammie_hetrick]: still have some concerns. They are trying to increase benefits. Uh, but

66
00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:54,960
[tammie_hetrick]: we're trying to keep that a very narrow scope to just during childbirth. if

67
00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:58,000
[tammie_hetrick]: that child passes, Uh, to give them

68
00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:03,200
[tammie_hetrick]: seven days seven, whatever the seven work days are. So if they only had five

69
00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:08,400
[tammie_hetrick]: scheduled than, they would get those five Uh to take time off to Um,

70
00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:14,160
[tammie_hetrick]: grieve and and just take care of any of those um, additional issues they

71
00:05:14,020 --> 00:05:15,020
[tammie_hetrick]: need to.

72
00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:19,920
[tammie_hetrick]: So that's where that bill is at. Um. There's also a number of bills that W.

73
00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:24,720
[tammie_hetrick]: f A is working closely with business organizations to mitigate the impact of

74
00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:29,200
[tammie_hetrick]: these bills or stop them. So there's an extended producer. Responsibility

75
00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:34,640
[tammie_hetrick]: updates Senate Bill Fifty nine Sixty seven, W. Fer continues to work with

76
00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:38,320
[tammie_hetrick]: proponents of the bill to ensure that W. Fffa's needs are met in the

77
00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:41,760
[tammie_hetrick]: language. There were concerns brought forward regarding the definition of

78
00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:46,240
[tammie_hetrick]: producer. Now that the bill and recycling content provisions are broader

79
00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:50,560
[tammie_hetrick]: than just certain plastics, there is also a need to address E commerce

80
00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:55,520
[tammie_hetrick]: issues since those companies using packaging as well, Oregon recently passed

81
00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:59,040
[tammie_hetrick]: a bill with a producer definition that was agreed to by both chain and

82
00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:03,040
[tammie_hetrick]: independent grocer. We believe that definition will work for this bill as

83
00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:05,280
[tammie_hetrick]: well, and fit with our policies

84
00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:12,080
[tammie_hetrick]: on retail theft. W F. I. A testified this week on two retail theft bills.

85
00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:16,640
[tammie_hetrick]: First House bill sixteen, fifty four, as are stand by bill, to add

86
00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:21,040
[tammie_hetrick]: concealment to the definition of the retail theft represented concise

87
00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:24,880
[tammie_hetrick]: testimony, and are working with the sponsor to see if we can keep this bill

88
00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:29,360
[tammie_hetrick]: moving and address concerns this year. The second bill sent a bill. Fifty

89
00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:34,080
[tammie_hetrick]: eight seventy one would increase the penalty for aggregate theft of seven

90
00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:39,280
[tammie_hetrick]: hundred and fifty dollars done with accomplices to felony theft. in the

91
00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:44,400
[tammie_hetrick]: second degree. This hopefully raises these types of theft to a higher

92
00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:48,640
[tammie_hetrick]: priority within the prosecutor's office, and deter this type of theft. Since

93
00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:52,480
[tammie_hetrick]: a criminal share information and know which states have stiffer penalties.

94
00:06:53,280 --> 00:06:56,400
[tammie_hetrick]: The bill was heard late in the committee process and were not sure whether

95
00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:59,200
[tammie_hetrick]: or not it will move, but we are working it hard.

96
00:07:01,280 --> 00:07:05,920
[tammie_hetrick]: low proof spirits, House bill Seventeen thirty four, Wf is supporting the

97
00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:09,680
[tammie_hetrick]: bill along with a coalition to help reduce the taxes applied to spirits when

98
00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:14,000
[tammie_hetrick]: those spirits are part of a low proof beverage. These low proooof beverages

99
00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:18,400
[tammie_hetrick]: are sold by the can and are low in calories. It is a bill that provides

100
00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:22,880
[tammie_hetrick]: additional products for consumers looking for these beverage options. in

101
00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:27,120
[tammie_hetrick]: addition to helping many of our local spirit producers who are manufacturing

102
00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:28,320
[tammie_hetrick]: this products in the state.

103
00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:33,680
[tammie_hetrick]: In Washington State, alcohol is tax based on the type of alcohol wine, beer

104
00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:38,640
[tammie_hetrick]: or spirits, not the percent of alcohol by volume. This approach creates a

105
00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:43,520
[tammie_hetrick]: wide disparity in alcohol tax rates. at the state level, Spirit taxes are

106
00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:47,200
[tammie_hetrick]: more than twenty times higher than table wine, and over fifty times higher

107
00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:51,920
[tammie_hetrick]: than beer. The tax disparity hits hardest when it comes to low calorie, low

108
00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:56,880
[tammie_hetrick]: alcohol, ready to drink beverages. These beverages, T typically contain less

109
00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:02,000
[tammie_hetrick]: than seven percent alcohol. for example, six pack mixed with beer can cost

110
00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:06,080
[tammie_hetrick]: consumers less than twelve dollars, While the same type of product made with

111
00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:10,320
[tammie_hetrick]: spirits can cost over thirty. Both products contain less than seven percent

112
00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:13,840
[tammie_hetrick]: alcohol, But the distilled product is nearly three times the overall cost.

113
00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:20,320
[tammie_hetrick]: The bill has a hearing on February third, Um. We have heard some concerns on

114
00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:26,000
[tammie_hetrick]: this. One of them was a concern over space and that it would take away from

115
00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:30,480
[tammie_hetrick]: the Beerm wine. And so we've met with many of the members to just find out

116
00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:36,400
[tammie_hetrick]: more about that. Idaho passed a similar law even for convenient stores, And

117
00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:41,040
[tammie_hetrick]: they've indicated that they've just increased space, not taken over space

118
00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:46,000
[tammie_hetrick]: that's being utilized by beer and wine, So I think we can work with some of

119
00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:48,080
[tammie_hetrick]: the Um concerns on this one.

120
00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:55,360
[tammie_hetrick]: Finally, I want to give an update on the E V and hydrogen Uh issues that we

121
00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:59,360
[tammie_hetrick]: have. w. F A has been participating in the Department of Agricultures rule

122
00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:04,640
[tammie_hetrick]: Wll, making on E V stations to bring more consistency to payment options. So

123
00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:08,240
[tammie_hetrick]: far these rules appear to be very workable for our convenient stores and

124
00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:12,880
[tammie_hetrick]: grocery stores who have E V chargers or want to bring them in much of the

125
00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:17,440
[tammie_hetrick]: owner's for registration, et cetera Would be on the entity in charge of the

126
00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:23,040
[tammie_hetrick]: station, which often is a contractor who manages them. W. Fe did bring up

127
00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:26,960
[tammie_hetrick]: the need to ensure contractal information as clear for businesses bringing

128
00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:30,880
[tammie_hetrick]: these chargers in. So the requirements and who is responsible are clear.

129
00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:36,800
[tammie_hetrick]: Debfa is also come up with a preliminary map to help argue for capital

130
00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:41,280
[tammie_hetrick]: budget dollars to start building out hydrogen stations using existing

131
00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:45,520
[tammie_hetrick]: business locations. Out were working with several of our convenient stores

132
00:09:45,680 --> 00:09:50,560
[tammie_hetrick]: that have feelueling stationsough, to develop that map to identify not only

133
00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:54,640
[tammie_hetrick]: where hydrogen stations could be accommodated, but also where we could

134
00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:59,840
[tammie_hetrick]: include truck, Uh, large truck stops, as well, so more to come on that

135
00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:06,720
[tammie_hetrick]: Uh also wanted distb. I mind everyone careers in retail. W f. I Education

136
00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:11,840
[tammie_hetrick]: Foundation chair Tyler Myyers testified with me in support of House Bill,

137
00:10:20,560 --> 00:10:24,880
[tammie_hetrick]: Sorry, Melissa, we're going to have to cut this. The numbers not ride on it.

138
00:10:25,940 --> 00:10:26,940
[tammie_hetrick]: I'm just gonna

139
00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:31,200
[tammie_hetrick]: will'll cut this out and I'll just start over with that one.

140
00:10:34,560 --> 00:10:39,600
[tammie_hetrick]: So now moving to careers in retail, W f. A Education Foundation chair Tyler

141
00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:42,080
[tammie_hetrick]: Myers testified with myself

142
00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:47,520
[tammie_hetrick]: on a bill that requires a Workforce Training and Education Coordinating

143
00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:51,440
[tammie_hetrick]: Board to consult and engage with stakeholders to identify and make

144
00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:56,320
[tammie_hetrick]: recommendations on strategies to develop and increase courses. Educational

145
00:10:56,480 --> 00:11:01,040
[tammie_hetrick]: pathways, credentials and training for retail workers. This bill would

146
00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:04,400
[tammie_hetrick]: improve outreach within the education system for programs like retail

147
00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:09,120
[tammie_hetrick]: management certifications, and improve K through twelve career counseling

148
00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:14,000
[tammie_hetrick]: information as it relates to retail careers. In addition there will be an

149
00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:17,920
[tammie_hetrick]: opportunity to build retail apprenticeships. The bill was voted out of

150
00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:19,040
[tammie_hetrick]: committee on Thursday.

151
00:11:21,740 --> 00:11:22,740
[tammie_hetrick]: We have some

152
00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:29,040
[tammie_hetrick]: transportation bills were working on and some trucking issues that were'

153
00:11:29,180 --> 00:11:30,180
[tammie_hetrick]: supporting within

154
00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:36,800
[tammie_hetrick]: Washington trucking Association, So keep watching on those. Um.

155
00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:42,160
[tammie_hetrick]: and that's it for this week. If you have any questions, please feel free to

156
00:11:42,060 --> 00:11:43,060
[tammie_hetrick]: reach out to me.

‍