Government Affairs Update

3.11 Inslee Lifts Indoor Mask Mandate

Gov. Jay Inslee announced this week that the statewide mask mandate will end at 11:59 p.m. on March 11 for most indoor settings.

Masks will continue to be required after March 12 in some settings, including health care and long-term care facilities, public transit and school buses. The updated mask mandate timeline is in response to declining hospitalization rates and updated recommendations from the CDC.

As before, businesses need to accommodate employees who want to wear a mask or need to take time off to get vaccinated or seek treatment for COVID-19.

2.11 Inslee Lifts Outdoor Mask Mandate

At the Wednesday news conference, Governor Inslee announced that the mask requirement for outdoor events would be lifted on February 18th. Governor Inslee also announced ending the pause on elective surgeries that same day.

1.28 WA Cares Fund Delayed until 2023

Last night, the State Senate passed legislation to delay, by 18 months, implementation of the Long-Term Care program in Washington State. This afternoon, Governor Inslee signed the bills into law, including an emergency clause so that the law takes effect immediately. The legislation delays requirements to collect the 0.58% payroll tax to fund the program – that payroll tax went into effect on January 1, 2022 – and employers have been in limbo this past month on the requirement. This legislation clarifies that any tax collected from employees can be returned; and that the program is delayed until July 2023.

1.13 National Guard Deployed to Confluence Health

12.17 Gov. Inslee announces delay on WA Cares Fund

Gov. Jay Inslee and Washington Democratic legislative leaders announced today that the new WA Cares payroll tax on employees will be delayed as they address concerns over the new long-term care program. Inslee announced in a statement, “We need to give legislators the opportunity to make refinements” to the new program before it begins. Inslee added that during the pause, employers won’t incur penalties or interest for not withholding those taxes from worker wages.

The mandate includes both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals with limited exemptions in office spaces not accessed by the public and small indoor settings. Those who work alone are also exempt.
Facemasks are available at the Wenatchee Valley Chamber for businesses that need them. Please contact us by phone at (509) 662-2116 or email at info@wenatchee.org.

The mandate includes both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals with limited exemptions in office spaces not accessed by the public and small indoor settings. Those who work alone are also exempt.
Facemasks are available at the Wenatchee Valley Chamber for businesses that need them. Please contact us by phone at (509) 662-2116 or email at info@wenatchee.org.

8.11 Health Insurance FAQ - Visit our blog here!

8.10 L&I ISSUED EMERGENCY RULES ON PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY REPORTING AND NOTIFICATION

Labor and Industries’ Division of Safety and Health created new emergency rules derived from Senate Bill 5115 (ESSB 5115), also known as the Health Emergency Labor Standards Act (HELSA).

The law contains two primary provisions:

Provides presumptive workers’ compensation coverage for frontline employees, except for certain healthcare employers, and the presumption of occupational disease may be rebutted by providing a preponderance of evidence.
Requires certain reporting requirements enforceable under the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act.

8.1 Plastic Bag Ban Effective Oct. 1st, 2021

8-cent bag charge

THE 8-CENT BAG CHARGE IS FOR ANY BAG PROVIDED TO THE CUSTOMER, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT IS AT PICKUP OR POINT OF SALE.
BUSINESSES COLLECT AND KEEP THIS FEE TO RECOVER SOME OF THE COST OF PROVIDING THE NEW PACKAGING, THIS FEE IS TAXABLE AND SUBJECT TO SALES TAX SINCE RETAIL STORES ARE SELLING THE BAGS.
THIS FEE MUST BE SHOWN ON THE CUSTOMERS SALES RECEIPT.
RETAILERS CANNOT “EAT THE COST” OF THE FEE AS THIS IS INTENDED TO PROMOTE THE USE OF REUSABLE BAGS BY THE CONSUMER.
IF ANY BUSINESSES ARE NOT COMPLYING WITH THIS NEWLY IMPLEMENTED LAW, REPEATED AND CONTINUOUS INSTANCES CAN RESULT IN UP TO A $250 FINE.
FILM PLASTIC BAGS TRADITIONALLY USED BY CUSTOMERS IN STORES FOR BULK ITEMS MAY BE USED FOR INDIVIDUAL BAKERY GOODS, LOAVES OF BREAD, AND OTHER PASTRIES.

Where can I purchase bag compliant bags?

GOUSA - CONTACT TIFFANY@GOUSAQUALITY.COM
THE US FOODS CHEFS’ STORE LOCATED AT 200 FERRY STREET
WEBSTAURANTSTORE.COM IS AN EASY WEBSITE TO LOCATE “ECO FRIENDLYDISPOSABLES” INCLUDING BAGS AND BULK PRICING.

Looking forward...

2022: REQUIRE RESTAURANTS AND FOOD SERVICE BUSINESSES TO ONLY GIVE CUSTOMERS DISPOSABLE SERVICEWARE UPON REQUEST.
2023: REQUIRE MINIMUM RECYCLED CONTENT IN SEVERAL TYPES OF SINGLE-USE PLASTICS, STARTING WITH TRASH BAGS AND BEVERAGE BOTTLES.
2024: RESTRICT THE SALE OF SPECIFIC TYPES OF EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE (E.G.,STYROFOAM™) PRODUCTS, STARTING IN 2023 WITH PACKING PEANUTS. THE RESTRICTIONS WILL APPLY TO FOOD SERVICE CONTAINERS AND RECREATIONAL COOLERS.