Senate OKs easing minimum wage penalties

The Senate has passed a measure to make it easier for employers to avoid fines for not paying the minimum wage or overtime. Under the measure passed Monday, employers would face no penalties for erroneously but "in good faith" interpreting advice from the Department of Labor and Industries on minimum wage and overtime rules.

Currently, employers are spared penalties if they "reasonably relied upon" the advice of Labor and Industries, which is a higher standard.

Bill supporters say it will give employers the benefit of the doubt in interpreting complicated rules.

Opponents said the bill would incentivize underpaying workers and would change 100 years of precedent.

Senate Bill 5158 passed by a vote of 25-24, with the Republican-dominated majority voting in favor. It heads next to the House.

Senate passes bill easing adoption ID rules

The Senate has advanced a measure to make it easier for people adopted before 1993 to obtain their birth certificates. Under the measure, everyone adopted in the state could access their birth certificates - and their birth parents' names - once they turn 18, unless the birth parents have filed legal papers requesting the information be withheld.

Under current law, those adopted after 1993 already have this right. But those adopted earlier must be at least 21 or have permission from their adoptive parents before going to court to seek a confidential intermediary to locate the birth parents and ask if they're willing to have their identities revealed.

The measure passed by the Senate by a vote of 42-5 and heads next to the House.

House OKs removal of marital rape exception

Washington is one a handful of states where marriage remains an absolute defense against allegations of some forms of rape and sexual assault. The state House voted 96-1 Monday to change that. Republican Rep. Elizabeth Scott of Monroe cast the sole dissenting vote.

House Bill 1108 would remove the spousal exemption from both rape in the third degree - in which no physical force is used - and from taking indecent liberties.

Until the 1970s, most states considered marriage to preclude any form of rape. Washington removed the marital exemption for first- and second-degree rape in 1983.

The measure heads next to the Senate.

Science education standards plan advances

The Senate has advanced a measure to create a panel advising Gov. Jay Inslee on how to improve science, technology, engineering and math education in the state.

Under the measure, passed unanimously Monday, the new "STEM education innovation alliance" would develop an overarching state science education plan. Together with the state's Office of Financial Management, it would then periodically put out report cards detailing the state's progress in hewing to the plan. It now heads to the House.

Inslee has declared improving science, technology, engineering and math education to be among his priorities.

House passes immunity for end-of-life decisions for health care workers

Washington state lawmakers are moving ahead with a plan that would give health care providers immunity for following end-of-life directives.

The House approved a bill Monday night to extend that protection for providers who follow valid forms that summarize end-of-life wishes. Democratic Rep. Jim Moeller of Vancouver said the measure is needed to ensure that health care providers can abide by the will of a patient without fear of liability.

Democratic Rep. Jamie Pedersen of Seattle opposed the measure. He fears the proposal would allow someone to complete an end-of-life form for a family member and that health care providers would not be obligated to check files for other end-of-life directives that may have been filled out by the patient.

The measure passed 59-36.

Senate OKs bill limiting local sick leave laws

The state Senate has approved a measure to limit Seattle's sick leave law.

The measure that passed on a 29-20 vote Monday would prohibit local governments from requiring employers to offer paid sick leave unless the business is physically located within the local government's jurisdiction, or if 85 percent of the hours worked for that employer are worked in the area. The measure now heads to the House, where it is not likely to gain traction.

Seattle's law requires businesses with at least five employees operating in Seattle to provide paid sick leave to workers. It took effect in September.