Committee Hearing Scheduled for Bill to Increase Employer Penalties

The Washington state House of Representatives Labor and Workplace Standards Committee on Thursday will debate a bill that would increase some employer penalties by 240% and require annual increases based on changes in the state’s average monthly wage. House Bill 2409, Rep. Christine Kilduff, D-University Place, would increase the specific cap on the penalty for illegally operating without work comp coverage to $1,700 from $500. State law allows the Department of Labor and Industries to assess a penalty equal to the specified cap or double the amount of premiums incurred pr...