Washington Workers' Comp Insurance Reform, Initiative 1082 (2010)

From Ballotpedia

Jump to: navigation, search

Contents

The Washington Workers' Comp Insurance Reform Initiative, also known as Initiative 1067, Initiative 1081 and Initiative 1082, will appear on the November 2, 2010 statewide ballot in the State of Washington as an Initiative to the People. According to the filed petition, the proposal aims to privatize industrial insurance.[1] Specifically the initiative would create a Joint Legislative Task Force on Private Competition for Industrial Insurance. The task force would be charged with developing proposed legislation and make recommendation by December 2011. The Washington Legislature would be required to adopt the legislation by March 1, 2012.[2]

According to the Washington Secretary of State's office, the state-run workers’ comp insurance program covers approximately 2.5 million workers. Coverage includes work-related injuries, lost-time compensation, medical care and other services.[3]

The measure was filed by Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW).

On June 30, two days prior to the state's petition drive deadline, supporters submitted an estimated 340,000 signatures for Initiative 1082.[4][5][6] Following a 3 percent random signature check the secretary of state certified the measure on July 13, 2010.[7]

Text of measure

Title

The ballot title reads:[8]

Statement of Subject: Initiative Measure No. 1082 concerns industrial insurance.
Concise Description: This measure would authorize employers to purchase private industrial insurance beginning July 1, 2012; direct the legislature to enact conforming legislation by March 1, 2012; and eliminate the worker-paid share of medical-benefit premiums.
Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No [ ]

Summary

According to the description prepared by the Washington Secretary of State:

This measure would permit certification of private insurers as industrial insurance insurers, and authorize employers to purchase state-mandated industrial insurance coverage through an “industrial insurance insurer” beginning July 1, 2012. It would establish a joint legislative task force to propose legislation conforming current statutes to this measure’s provisions, and would direct the legislature to enact such supplemental conforming legislation as necessary by March 1, 2012. It would also eliminate the worker-paid share of medical-benefit premiums.

Support

The initiative is sponsored by Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW). According to the association they plan to use paid signature gatherers to collect the required signatures.[9] The proposed initiative has been endorsed by the National Federation of Independent Business.[2]

Donors

Reports in August 2010 revealed that supporters had collected an estimated $1 million in campaign contributions.[10]

Opposition

The Washington State Labor Council is opposed to the proposed initiative. Council president Rick Bender said,"We are strongly opposed to it because it is not in the interest of workers, nor do we think it’s in the interest of small businesses as well – as they will soon find out from other states. The Washington State Labor Council is gearing up for a big battle with its old nemesis, and council president Rick Bender said labor is building a broad coalition to fight back. We are considered a low-cost state and yet a high-benefit state."[9]

Path to the ballot

I-1082 petitions. Photo credit: Washington Secretary of State
See also: Washington signature requirements and 2010 ballot measure petition signature costs

According to the Washington Secretary of State supporters scheduled an appointment with the state elections office for 11:30 a.m. on July 2.[11][12][13] However, on June 30, two days prior to the state's petition drive deadline, supporters submitted an estimated 340,000 signatures for Initiative 1082.[4][5]

In order to qualify for the November ballot, supporters are required to submit a minimum of 241,153 valid signatures by July 2, 2010.[14][15]

Signature validity count

I-1082 qualified for the 3 percent random signature check. Supporters submitted 345,541 signatures. According to the Washington Secretary of State's office, of the 10,571 signatures that were reviewed, a total of 9,017 were accepted. The error rate was 18.9 percent, which according to state officials, was a little higher than average. Signatures were invalidated for several reasons: "no registration could be found for the signer, the signature didn’t match the one on file or there was no usable image on file for the signer, or because they were duplicates."[16]

See also

 		Suggest a link

Articles

External links

Campaign links

Additional reading

References

  1. ↑ State of Washington,"Affidavit of proposed initiative," January 20, 2010
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Risk & Insurance,"Washington state: Builders seek WC reform through ballot initiative," May 17, 2010
  3. ↑ State of Washington: From Our Corner,"Homebuilders mount workers’ comp initiative," January 20, 2010
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Bellingham Herald,"Builders turn in I-1082 signatures," June 30, 2010
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Associated Press,"Workers' comp initiative steps closer to ballot," June 30, 2010
  6. ↑ Washington's: From Our Corner,"`Direct democracy’ — A six-pack for 2010," July 2, 2010
  7. ↑ The Bellingham Herald,"Secretary Reed certifies I-1082 for ballot," July 13, 2010
  8. ↑ Washington Secretary of State,"Initiative 1082 brief description," retrieved May 19, 2010
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 The News Tribune,"BIAW to push initiative on workers' comp," April 16, 2010
  10. ↑ Associated Press,"Wash. initiative campaigns draw big campaign cash," August 17, 2010
  11. ↑ Washington Secretary of State's Blog: From Our Corner,"It’s raining initiatives...," June 24, 2010
  12. ↑ The News Tribune,"Could be 6 citizen initiatives on ballot in November," June 27, 2010
  13. ↑ The Daily Herald,"Up to 7 initiatives could make ballot in Washington," June 28, 2010
  14. ↑ The Bellingham Herald,"Builders schedule year's first initiative turn-in," June 21, 2010
  15. ↑ Herald Net,"BIAW plans delivery of its initiative petitions," June 21, 2010
  16. ↑ Washington Secretary of State's: From Our Corner,"`3-way’ workers comp initiative scores fall ballot spot," July 13, 2010
v • d • e
2010 ballot measures
I&R States
Non I&R States
Political topics
Other
Retrieved from "http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Washington_Workers%27_Comp_Insurance_Reform,_Initiative_1082_(2010)"
Personal tools