Bill > SB6302

This bill establishes a process for investigating potential misclassification of workers in specific trades on public works projects, meaning situations where individuals are incorrectly labeled as independent contractors instead of employees. If a contractor or subcontractor hires three or more individuals as independent contractors to perform the same type of "covered finishing work" – which includes drywall, flooring, tiling, painting, and glasswork – at the same time on a public project, the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) must investigate upon receiving a referral. These referrals can come from the government entity awarding the contract, any contractor or subcontractor on the project, a labor union representing affected workers, or an individual worker themselves. If L&I determines that workers have indeed been misclassified, the responsible contractor or subcontractor will face all the legal requirements, responsibilities, and penalties associated with misclassification under existing state law, and L&I will then make appropriate referrals regarding unemployment insurance (Title 50 RCW) and industrial insurance (Title 51 RCW).