Washington Uniform Common Interest
Ownership Act: What You Need To Know

The Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA) or SSB 6175 was adopted during the 2018 legislative session and takes effect July1, 2018. Based on the Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act, the WUCIOA will govern all Common Interest Communities, including condominiums and plat communities, created after July 1, 2018.

"Home builders that want to avoid the WUCIOA requirements will have to have the condominium or plat community created prior to July 1, 2018," said BIAW member and attorney James C. "Pete" Middlebrooks.

Check out the article on WUCIOA requirements in the May issue of Building Insight.

Also, read the SSB 6175 overview and the complete SSB 6175 bill.

If you have any questions about SSB 6175, please contact BIAW Government Affairs Director Jan Himebaugh or General Counsel Adam Frank at (360) 352-7800.

BIAW Announces Area 15 Leadership Conference

BIAW, along with the National Association of Home Builders, is proud to invite local association executive officers, staff and leadership to attend the 2018 Area 15 Leadership Conference . The two-day conference, with an Effective Communications optional training day, offers leadershop training skills designed to help you improve, empower, and reach your individual development and association performance goals.

Register for the Leadership Conference here.

If you have any questions, please contact Hillary or Brenda at (360) 352-7800

New HR Laws Impacting Employers Begin June 7
Learn What You Need To Know

BIAW has created two helpful charts that summarize two important bills that passed during the 2018 session. The first chart outlines the Fair Chance Act, which is intended to give applicants with a criminal record a fair opportunity to be hired by preventing employers from screening them out of the applicant pool before assessing their qualifications.

The second chart outlines Equal Pay and clarifies what is and what is not considered gender-based wage discrimination, and imposes new penalties on offenders.

Both bills become effective June 7, 2018.

If you have questions regarding these two bills, contact BIAW Government Affairs Director Jan Himebaugh or BIAW General Counsel Adam Frank at (360) 352-7800.

BIAW Seeking Candidates for
Executive Vice President Position

BIAW is seeking a candidate with strong knowledge and background of association management for the Executive Vice President position.

The EVP serves as chief administrative officer, recommends and participates in formulation and implementation of new policies and makes decisions cooperatively with senior officers, executive committee, and board of directors. Plans, organizes, directs and coordinates BIAW staff, along with programs and activities to ensure the association's goals and objectives are met.

The EVP leads a team of over 35 professional staff as well as contract lobbyists, attorneys and other consultants.

Read the entire job recruitment notice and submit a cover letter and a current resume.

If you have questions regarding this announcement, please call Marissa Karras at (360) 956-1336. In order to be considered for the first round of interviews, please submit your application materials no later than April 27, 2018 by visiting Karras Consulting and clicking on "view open positions."

2018-19 R.O.I.I.® Select Enrollment
is Now Open!

The R.O.I.I.® Select team is currently accepting applications for the 2018-2019 Plan Year.

As the state's oldest and largest construction retro group in the state, BIAW's R.O.I.I.® Select has returned over $500 million in refunds to participating companies since 1982.

Retro is a safety incentive program with a simple goal: eliminate injuries through improvements in work place safety and preventive strategoes. However, if an employee is injured, help them get better, quicker, with a successful return to work experience. Do this and your business can earn a refund.

To find out if R.O.I.I.® Select is a good fit for your company, fill out our quick and easy
electronic release form or download the printable release form and submit it today!

For more information contact R.O.I.I.® Select at (360) 352-7800, or enroll@biaw.com.

Hirst Fixed!

BIAW applauds the state House and Senate for passing SSB 6091 yesterday evening, which fixes the 2016 Washington State Supreme Court ruling known as the Hirst decision. Governor Inslee signed the Hirst fix legislation this afternoon, January 19.

This legislation will ensure home builders can get back to building in rural areas that rely on household wells, and will help the people of Washington in keeping housing affordable.

"We fully support the final bill passed by the House and Senate," said 2018 President Kevin Rusell. "In the bill, for example, rural areas can continue to rely on the Department of Ecology as the state's resource manager, which creates certainty and predictability for home builders, property owners and families that rely on household wells to build on rural land."

You can find more details in the Hirst Fixed press release.

Paid Sick Leave Starts Jan. 1.
Learn What You Need to Know

When Initiative 1433 was passed by Washington voters in 2016, it not only raised the state minimum wage to $13.50 per hour by 2020, it also created a mandatory paid sick and safe leave requirement for all employers that goes into effect January 1, 2018.

If you have employees in exempt positions, meaning they are excluded from minimum wage, overtime regulations and paid a salary rather than an hourly wage, you will need to know what to do in order to be in compliance by January 1. Note that use of a paid time off (PTO) program is permitted to substitute for paid sick and safe leave when meeting certain conditions.

Paid Sick Leave Notices

Employers that are affected by this must notify employees of their paid safe and sick leave rights no later than March 1, 2018. The notification must contain the accrual rate, authorized uses of the leave and explain the no retaliation portion of the rule. Employers must also provide a monthly notice of accrued leave, used leave and their current balance of the leave.

1 Hour for Every 40 Hours

Employees hired before January 1, 2018 will begin accruing the leave at 1 hour of leave for every 40 hours of work when the initiative goes into effect. New employees will start accruing the leave on their first day of employment. The accrual is at the employees’ normal rate of pay and should be paid in the pay period in which the leave was used. Employees will be eligible to use the leave after 90 days.

When Employees Can Use Leave

There are several ways an employee is authorized to use this leave. Employees may use paid sick leave to care for themselves or a family member, when the employees’ workplace or their child's school or place of care has been closed by a public official for any health-related reason, and for absences that qualify for leave under the state's Domestic Violence Leave Act.

Definition of a Family Member

The definition of family member is incredibly broad, which complicates an employers’ ability to verify approved use of paid leave. For purposes of this act, a family member is defined as a child, including a biological, adopted, or foster child, stepchild, or a child to whom the employee stands in loco parentis, is a legal guardian, or is a de facto parent, regardless of age or dependency status. A biological, adoptive, de facto, or foster parent, stepparent, or legal guardian of an employee or the employee's spouse or registered domestic partner, or a person who stood in loco parentis when the employee was a minor child.

At Least 10-Day Notice to Use Leave

The employee must give at least 10 days notice of their intent to use this leave when foreseeable. Unforeseen leave should be reported to the employer as soon as possible before the start of shift, unless impracticable. In either case, the employee is authorized to have someone else report their leave if they are not able to do it themselves. When leave is used under the Domestic Violence Leave Act, the notice rules do not apply.

Enforcement

An employer may not adopt or enforce any policy that counts the use of paid sick leave time as an absence that may lead to or result in discipline against the employee. Further, an employer may not discriminate or retaliate against an employee for his or her exercise of any rights contained in the initiative.

Paid Sick Leave Law Fact Sheet

Download the two-page Paid Sick Leave Law fact sheet here.

Paid Sick Leave Rules

View the complete set of Paid Sick Leave Rules (RCWs).

Paid Sick Leave Draft Sample Policies

To help employers implement the requirements set forth in the paid sick leave rules, dowload L&I's Sick Leave Sample Policies here.

Paid Sick Leave Overview: What You Need To Know

Download a one-page Paid Sick Leave Overview here.

Questions?

For more information, please contact BIAW Codes Coordinator Al Audette or at (360) 352-7800, ext. 105.

BIAW Now Accepting Education Program Scholarship Applications

BIAW is pleased to announce its 2018 Education Program Scholarship application is now available. In addition to funding for students pursuing a degree in home building industry-related fields, we also offer $10,000 for scholarships designated for technical/vocational and trade students.

A fillable 2018 Scholarship Application is available for your convenience.

The deadline to submit a scholarship application to BIAW is May 4, 2018.

If you have any questions, please contact Jan Rohila at 360-352-7800, ext. 101.

BIAW's 2018 Spike Speedway Party: Welcome Race Fans!

It's not too soon to save the date for BIAW's annual Spike Party. This year's event will take place at the Red Lion Hotel Speedway, Pasco, on Thursday, June 21st. Rev up your engines and catch all the racing action, enjoy great food and win great prizes.

Sponsor opportunities are now available. Choose from Premier, Gold, Silver or donate a raffle prize.

Download a 2018 Spike Speedway Party Sponsor form here.

Thank you to Premier sponsor, New Tradition Homes, Pasco.

If you have any questions, please contact Jan Rohila at (360) 352-7800, ext.101.

Call for Entries: 2018 EIR Awards

Do you have a remodeling project you believe is worthy of recognition? No project is too big or too small. (There are over 27 project categories!) Receive recognition and exposure for your craftsmanship, innovation and attention to detail. BIAW's Excellence in Remodeling (EIR) awards are open to all BIAW members.

Download the 2018 EIR Nomination Packet and Entry Form.

Why enter the EIR? Download the EIR Marketing Materials and discover the many reasons you should enter.

The EIR reception will be held Wednesday evening, June 20 at the Red Lion Hotel, Pasco.For more information, contact Al Audette at 360-352-7800, ext. 105.

Entries are due Friday, April 27, 2018 .

The Economic Impact of New Home Construction in Washington State

Recent research and data from BIAW, NAHB and the US Census Bureau provide an irrefutable case for the benefits of home building. New home construction is a leading revenue and job generator in the state of Washington and, if encouraged, could lead the state's economic recovery.

Economist Dr. Elliott Eisenberg shows us how and why in this entertaining, interesting video highlighting the economic impact of new home construction in Washington.

New Home Construction State's Third Largest Employer

The National Association of Home Builder's Housing Policy Department research estimates the first-year impact of 13,825 new single-family homes built in Washington State is nearly $3.1 billion in state and local revenues, $729 million in state and local taxes and 41,000 jobs. For the full press release Click here