Committee reports sick-leave exemption bill for seafood processors after staff recap

Senate Bill 268, a bill brought at the request of the seafood processing sector, received a brief recap from staff to Senator Gary Stevens and was reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee on May 15 with individual recommendations and two attached fiscal notes.

Tim Lampkin, staff to Senator Stevens, said the bill is intended to respond to the paid-sick-leave provisions of 2024 Ballot Measure 1 by recognizing operational, seasonal and economic factors unique to the seafood processing industry. He invited witnesses Julie Decker and Nicole Kimball, but no public testimony was offered either in person or online.

A committee member moved to report SB 268 with individual recommendations and two fiscal notes; with no objection heard the chair declared the bill reported from committee. The committee took a brief recess to sign paperwork and moved to the next agenda item.