This bill introduces new requirements for the Washington State Department regarding the H-2A worker program and hand harvesters. It mandates that the department collect specific data during field checks of employers, including the number of H-2A workers at each work site and their living locations. Additionally, the department is required to compile this information and compare it with the number of workers requested in the employer's H-2A application, providing quarterly updates to an advisory committee.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a comprehensive annual wage survey for hand harvesters of apples, cherries, pears, and blueberries. The survey will gather data on wage rates, unemployment insurance claims, and demographic information such as age and gender. The department is tasked with ensuring a minimum number of responses from various categories of harvesters and will offer $25 incentives for participation. An annual report summarizing the survey findings must be submitted to the legislature, and provisions are included to ensure compliance with federal requirements related to funding.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 50.75.020