One State Considers a Domestic Workers Bill of Rights
Washington state lawmakers are considering legislation that would create a “Domestic Workers Bill of Rights,” giving these household employees protections like written contracts with employment terms, a minimum wage, overtime and breaks. Shutterstock
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Debate over transgender flag in Iowa … Veterans courts in Utah … Plan to ban GPS taxes in Washington.
Washington state lawmakers are considering legislation that would create a “Domestic Workers Bill of Rights,” giving these household employees protections like written contracts with employment terms, a minimum wage, overtime and breaks. The bill, which is backed by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Gov. Jay Inslee, also prohibits employers from threatening cleaners, nannies, and other workers by mentioning their immigration status.The proposed legislation is intended to close a gap in the state’s labor laws that exclude domestic workers, many of whom are women and immigrants, from these protections. “This is a group of workers that too often are made invisible, but do critical work that is highly valued by families across our state,” said bill sponsor Sen. Rebecca Saldana, a Democrat. Several domestic workers testified before the state legislature in favor of the legislation, including a woman who lawmakers that she was making $100 for 12-hour days because she did not know that was far below the state’s minimum wage of $13.50 per hour. Adriana Cazorla, who worked as a maid, said that she was treated poorly by her employer, who did not allow her to speak, use the bathroom, or enter the house through the front door. “It wasn’t fair that they were treating me like an animal. We all have rights and we all have a right to be treated with dignity,” she said. Some families who have au pairs, young people from foreign countries who provide childcare help in exchange for room and board, asked the legislature to exempt au pairs from the bill because they already receive benefits outside of traditional payment. When a similar bill passed Massachusetts in 2014, an au pair agency sued to make au pairs exempt, but was rejected when courts found them to be domestic workers and therefore covered by the bill of rights. [Seattle Times; Spokesman Review]
TRANSGENDER FLAG | Republican lawmakers in Iowa want to prevent the state and local governments from flying certain types of flags above official buildings. The move comes after the Iowa Capitol Building flew a flag observing Transgender Day of Remembrance in November. Republicans want to limit the flags allowed to those for the U.S., the state of Iowa, and prisoners of war, as well as local flags of a city, county or school district. Republican Sen. Jake Chapman said that if transgender flags are allowed, so too might KKK or Nazi flags. “We have to draw that line because I don’t think anyone at this table would feel comfortable with that kind of flag being flown over our Capitol just because someone petitions and asks for it to be flown,” he said in committee. Democratic Sen. Tony Bisignano said he was uncomfortable putting restrictions on local governments. “I don’t mind state government dominating state government but when state government wants to dominate entities under them because they can, it’s objectionable to me,” he said. [Associated Press]
VETERANS COURTS | The Utah state legislature is considering a bill to establish a statewide court system solely for veterans with the goal of providing arrested veterans alternatives to incarceration. The legislation was proposed by state Rep. Lowry Snow and reflects the idea that criminal activity among veterans may be due to PTSD or substance abuse. “This bill was motivated to give back to our veterans. It contemplates a collaboration between prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges to work out a probation program that helps treat vets’ issues to get them back on their feet and alleviate the stigma of having a conviction,” Snow said. There are some existing veterans courts in Utah, but Snow’s bill would create a statewide standard process so that any court could administer treatment to veterans. [St. George News]
GPS TAXES | A Washington lawmaker wants to amend the state constitution to make it clear that the state cannot track individuals for the purpose of collecting taxes. The move comes in response to a different proposed measure that would transition the state from charging a gasoline tax to charging a tax based on the number of miles a driver travels; such a tax could possibly require a plug-in GPS device. “Constituents across the state have made it clear they don't want their privacy invaded with GPS tracking or by any other means,” said Rep. Jesse Young, sponsor of the bill to amend the state constitution. [Peninsula Daily News; iFiber One]
SMOKING IN COURT | A man who appeared in Tennessee court this week on a charge for possession of marijuana was re-arrested when he lit and smoked a joint in court during his sentencing. According to Wilson County Sheriff Robert Bryan, the man said he was “expressing a viewpoint” that marijuana should be legalized. [Tennessean]
Emma Coleman is the assistant editor for Route Fifty.
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