Rep. Paul Holvey

Digest: Makes quota guidelines for some warehouse workers. Not following this Act is a reason to make a claim to BOLI. (Flesch Readability Score: 69.7). Creates rules and standards for warehouse employees' quota requirements. Creates an exemption for certain employers who are subject to a collective bargaining agreement that meets certain criteria. Establishes a procedure through Bureau of Labor and Industries if employers violate the Act. Provides that an employer's failure to comply with requirements shall subject the employer to civil penalties. Modifies certain biennial appropriations made from the General Fund to the Bureau of Labor and Industries.

Digest: The Act creates new crimes concerning visual displays of animal abuse. The Act creates exceptions to the new crimes. The Act amends related animal cruelty laws. (Flesch Readability Score: 64.6). Criminalizes the creation of a visual recording of aggravated animal abuse. Punishes by a maximum of five years' imprisonment, $125,000 fine, or both. Creates the crime of encouraging aggravated animal abuse in the first degree. Punishes by a maximum of 364 days' imprisonment, $6,250 fine, or both. Creates the crime of encouraging aggravated animal abuse in the second degree. Punishes by a maximum of six months' imprisonment, $2,500 fine, or both. Establishes certain exceptions to the new crimes. Establishes certain changes related to a prohibition against possession of the same genus or domestic animal against which a crime was committed or involved.

Digest: The Act would make it a crime for an employer to file a false payroll report to lower its workers' comp premium. (Flesch Readability Score: 69.1). [ Digest: The Act would make it a crime for an employer to report false data in order to lower its workers' comp premium. (Flesch Readability Score: 65.2). ] [ Creates the crime of fraudulent misrepresentation by an employer to an insurer of certain employee-related data with the intent to decrease the employer's workers' compensation insurance premium. Punishes by a maximum fine of $125,000 plus specified forms of restitution. ] Provides that an employer commits a Class A misdemeanor if the employer knowingly submits a false payroll report with the intent to decrease the employer's premium for workers' compensation insurance. Punishes by a maximum of 364 days' imprisonment, a $6,250 fine, or both. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Digest: The Act creates the Task Force on Specialty Courts and tells the task force to report to the legislature by November 15, 2024. The Act takes effect when the Governor signs it. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.6). [ Digest: The Act creates the Task Force on Specialty Courts and tells the task force to report to the legislature by September 15, 2024. The Act takes effect on the 91st day after sine die. (Flesch Readability Score: 65.1). ] Establishes the Task Force on Specialty Courts. Directs the task force to study certain issues concerning specialty courts and to provide the results of the study to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to the judiciary no later than [ September ] November 15, 2024. Sunsets on December 31, 2024. [ Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die. ] Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Digest: The Act tells an agency to take actions on water in the Walla Walla River Basin. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.6). Directs the Water Resources Department to take certain actions related to the Walla Walla Water 2050 Strategic Plan.

Digest: The Act adds protections for payments related to student athletes. The Act declares an emergency. The Act becomes law when the Governor signs it. (Flesch Readability Score: 64.7). Enhances the protections for post-secondary institutions of education, student athletes and others regarding the provision of compensation for a student's name, image, likeness or athletic reputation. Requires a person who uses a student athlete's athletic reputation in or on certain products for the purpose of making a profit to provide royalty payments to the student athlete. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Digest: Honors the life and memory of Joanne Russell Verger. (Flesch Readability Score: 66.1). In memoriam: Joanne Russell Verger, 1930-2023.

Digest: Honors the life and memory of Dick Springer. (Flesch Readability Score: 71.8). In memoriam: Dick Springer, 1948-2023.

Digest: Honors the life and memory of Ken Leisten. (Flesch Readability Score: 71.8). Recognizes and honors Specialist Ken "Kenny" Leisten (1984-2004) for his service to his country.

Digest: Bans the recoupment of certain costs if the costs are from the fault of a utility. Makes an electric company make a report on any fire event that is caused by a power line. Allows the report to be used as evidence. Specifies the economic damages allowed for property damage caused by a wildfire. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.5). Prohibits the recovery from customers of certain costs and expenses that a public utility incurs as a result of negligence or a higher degree of fault on the part of the public utility. Requires an investor-owned electric utility to provide an incident report to the Department of the State Fire Marshal and the State Forestry Department whenever a fire-related incident occurs that is caused by the utility's electric power line and to provide a copy of the incident report to the Public Utility Commission. Provides that the incident report may be used as evidence. Specifies the recoverable economic damages allowed for damage or injury to property caused by a wildfire. Allows the use of other objectively verifiable information to determine fair market value.