Bill > SB5459

This bill establishes the Washington Call Center Jobs Act, which aims to protect local call center jobs by imposing reporting and penalties on employers planning to relocate call centers out of the United States. The bill defines a call center as a facility primarily focused on customer service communications and applies to employers with 50 or more workers. Employers must notify the state commissioner at least 120 days before relocating a call center (or 25% of its operations) to a foreign country, with potential civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day for non-compliance. Additionally, employers who appear on the relocation list become ineligible for state agency grants or loans for five years, though waivers may be granted to prevent substantial job losses. State agencies are also required to ensure that call center service contracts specify work must be performed entirely within the United States, with exceptions for interpreter services. The bill does not affect workers' existing payment or benefit rights and seeks to discourage offshore outsourcing by creating administrative and financial disincentives for companies considering moving call center operations abroad.

Business and Industry, Labor and Employment

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5459&Year=2025&Initiative=false