News for Regulations
Changes to paid sick leave for unionized construction workers
Very little reporting has focused on a new law, signed by Governor Inslee on April 30, 2019, that significantly changes the Paid Sick Leave Law (RCW 49.46.210) for construction workers covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
Posted on: 08/21/2019
New Buy American Act executive order ups the ante on domestic preferences
As anticipated, the Trump Administration has continued to build on its emphasis for domestic preference requirements on projects that are subject to the Buy American Act
Posted on: 07/25/2019
Ill-conceived contractor-liability bill dies in Legislature
The number of anti-business bills introduced in Olympia this year has been unprecedented. But thanks to a worthy effort from AGC and its members, general contractors and subcontractors alike will not be as easy targets in years to come for double-payment liability on private projects.
Posted on: 03/26/2019
AGC charges 17 local unions with unfair labor practices
AGC of Washington (AGCW) has filed an unfair labor-practice charge against 17 building and construction unions with the Region 19 National Labor Relations Board in Seattle, Washington.
Posted on: 01/02/2019
L&I proposes new overtime rules
The Department of Labor and Industries is in the process of updating rules regarding exemptions to the minimum-wage act (MWA) which exempts executive, administrative and professional (EAP) workers.
Posted on: 11/06/2018
Is your employee Washington-based, for minimum-wage and sick-leave purposes?
One of the lingering questions regarding the state’s new minimum wage and paid sick leave law, which went into effect Jan. 1 2018, is how “Washington-based employees” will be defined.
Posted on: 11/06/2018
"Hours-of-service" rules don’t work for construction
AGC of America organized a meeting with the administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the agency’s top management team to discuss the need for a construction-industry exemption from hours-of-service (HOS) restrictions.
Posted on: 11/06/2018
AGC opposes PSCAA fuel proposal
The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is considering a regional low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS), and AGC is opposed. AGC is joining a coalition of business, agriculture and labor groups in requesting that PSCAA drop its proposal.
Posted on: 11/06/2018
New law may require employers to send child-support payments electronically
Employers of all sizes are valuable partners with the Department of Social and Health Services Division of Child Support (DCS). By reporting new hires, processing Income Withholding for Support orders (IWO), and sending payments to us, you help DCS collect more than 65 percent of the nearly $700 million we collect for families each year.
Posted on: 11/06/2018
AG’s Office agrees to consider legality of Education Special District 112’s Construction-Services Group
The Washington State Attorney General’s Office has agreed to look into the procurement practices of Educational Special District 112’s Construction Services Group, and to issue a non-binding opinion on whether it school districts that contract with the group must comply with Washington’s competitive procurement procedures in doing so.
Posted on: 09/11/2018
Attorney General’s Office agrees to consider legality of Education Special District 112’s Construction Services Group
The Washington State Attorney General’s Office has agreed to look into the procurement practices of Educational Special District 112’s Construction Services Group, and to issue a non-binding opinion on whether it school districts that contract with the group must comply with Washington’s competitive procurement procedures in doing so.
Posted on: 09/06/2018
Learn more about DOE’s new Solid-Waste Handling Standards, effective Sept. 1
The Department of Ecology recently adopted long-in-the-making rule Solid-Waste Handling Standards. AGC, WACA and other groups worked to secure many improvements to earlier drafts of the rule. However, AGC members are encouraged to review the new rule and info provided by DOE.
Posted on: 08/13/2018
Comment on L&I’s upcoming rulemaking on overtime, minimum-wage exemptions
The Department of Labor and Industries is in the process of updating rules regarding exemptions to the minimum-wage act (MWA) which exempts executive, administrative and professional (EAP) workers.
Posted on: 07/02/2018
AGC opposes carbon-tax plan
AGC’s Board of Trustees voted to oppose Initiative 1631, which would enact a new carbon tax. Proponents are currently gathering signatures in hopes of getting the measure on the November ballot.
Posted on: 06/04/2018
Take note of prevailing wage, apprenticeship changes
Among the bills passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor during the recently concluded legislative session were these measures:
Posted on: 03/28/2018
King County Passes Priority Hire Ordinance
On Monday, March 5, 2018, the King County Council passed the Priority Hire Ordinance with unanimous support. The ordinance paves the way for the County to negotiate with Labor a Master Community-Workforce Agreement which will direct unions to prioritize workers from designated disadvantaged zip codes for dispatch to covered projects.
Posted on: 03/08/2018
Capital Budget and “Hirst fix” pass Legislature
AGC applauds passage of the long-delayed 2017-2019 State Capital Budget as well as passage of the water-rights “Hirst fix.”
Posted on: 01/30/2018
Legislature passes $4B construction budget, water-rights bill
State lawmakers late Thursday approved a $4.3 billion construction budget and legislation to address a rural water-rights debate that had stalled the spending plan since the spring of 2017.
Posted on: 01/19/2018
AGC forms Acceptable Worksites taskforce
To support the City of Seattle's Priority Hire program and its community workforce goals, Acceptable Worksites contract provisions were included in city-issued contracts to improve apprenticeship graduation rates among women and people of color and ensure appropriate behavior on all city project sites.
Posted on: 11/21/2017
WSDOT proposes 19% DBE goal on FHA-funded projects
WSDOT is proposing a 19 percent overall DBE participation goal on Federal Highway Administration-funded projects for federal fiscal years 2018 through 2020. WSDOT will submit the proposal to FHWA early next year following a public comment period.
Posted on: 11/01/2017
Final sick-leave rule is out: What you need to know
AGC is sponsoring a presentation and webinar by Darren Feider of Sebris Busto to answer all your questions about the new paid sick leave law that takes effect on Jan. 1, 2018.
Posted on: 10/23/2017
New disparity study leads to WSDOT’s request to rescind white-women waiver
Based on the results of its recently completed disparity study, WSDOT has asked the Federal Highway Administration to rescind the waiver WSDOT received in 2016 to exclude white woman-owned firms from the race and gender-conscious component of the DBE program.
Posted on: 09/26/2017
Attorney General’s Office seeks US Supreme Court review in culverts case
The Attorney General’s Office recently filed a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the “culverts case.”
Posted on: 08/28/2017
President Trump’s Executive Order seeks to expedite infrastructure projects
AGC of America reports that President Trump recently issued an Executive Order...
Posted on: 08/28/2017
How to handle an environmental inspection
The initial and most critical phase of an environmental enforcement action is the agency inspection of the event or facility.