This bill amends RCW 51.32.090 to reduce the waiting period for a worker's temporary total disability compensation from fourteen days to seven days following an injury. It specifies that workers will not receive compensation for the day of the injury or the three days following unless their disability lasts for a full seven consecutive calendar days. The bill also introduces adjustments to compensation calculations, including changes to the percentage of average monthly wage limits and maximum allowable wage subsidies for employers who provide light duty or transitional work to injured workers.

Additionally, the bill emphasizes the importance of keeping injured workers engaged in the workforce by offering wage subsidies and incentives to employers. It outlines conditions for employer reimbursements for training, clothing, and equipment, allowing up to $400 for clothing and $2,500 for tools, while clarifying that reimbursement for training does not indicate eligibility for vocational services. The bill establishes a limit on wage subsidies for a maximum of 66 days within a 24-month period and requires reimbursement requests to be submitted within one year. It also modifies minimum monthly payment calculations for workers and establishes a Washington stay-at-work account funded by employer assessments, with new provisions taking effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 51.32.090
Bill as Passed Legislature: 51.32.090
Session Law: 51.32.090