The bill amends existing Washington state laws regarding wages for journeypersons working in high-hazard facilities. It introduces new definitions, including "applicable occupation," which refers to the specific trade or occupation as defined by relevant state rules, and "registered apprentice," which outlines the criteria for apprentices, including the requirement for employers to provide written notification of applicable occupations and wage rates. Additionally, the bill clarifies the definition of "skilled journeyperson" and establishes wage payment requirements, ensuring that workers are compensated at rates commensurate with typical wages for their occupation in the geographic area, with a minimum threshold set at the seventy-fifth percentile of wage statistics.

Furthermore, the bill specifies that failure to comply with the skilled and trained workforce requirements, excluding wage rate compliance, constitutes a violation of existing labor laws. It also states that workers in apprenticeable occupations who do not meet the definitions of registered apprentices or skilled journeypersons will still be considered skilled journeypersons for wage requirement purposes. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 49.80.010
Engrossed Bill: 49.80.010, 49.80.040
Bill as Passed Legislature: 49.80.010, 49.80.040
Session Law: 49.80.010, 49.80.040