RCW 51.04.180
State of emergency—Safety grant program expenditures—Procedures.
(1) In the event of a state of emergency as defined in RCW 43.06.010(12), the director is authorized to expend up to two percent per year of the net premiums earned in the accident fund in the prior fiscal year for the purpose of a safety grant program so long as the assets of the accident fund and pension reserve fund were at least 10 percent in excess of their funded liabilities in the fiscal quarter immediately preceding the state of emergency proclamation.
(2) The safety grant program shall provide one-time grants to employers to purchase equipment, gear, or make capital improvements so long as the purchase is not covered by another grant, government program, or insurance contract. The department may require matching funds from employers. Employers must apply for grants using an application developed by the department.
(3) Employers shall apply the safety grants to purchases of equipment, gear, or capital costs to meet any new safety and health requirements related to the emergency that are required before they are permitted to continue or resume business operations.
(4) An appropriation is not required for expenditures under this section.
(5) Only employers who pay premiums to the state fund as defined in RCW 51.08.175, are not self-insured as defined in RCW 51.08.173, and have 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees are eligible for funding under this section.
(6) All funds expended from the accident fund for grants under this section must be reimbursed to the accident fund from the state general fund in the omnibus appropriations act adopted for the biennium following the expenditures.
(7) Rules that are adopted to implement this section must be done in consultation with stakeholders. Rules must include but are not limited to:
(a) Guidance for grant awards based on the type, scope, and time frame of a specific declared emergency; and
(b) Criteria for prioritizing grants for eligible recipients.
[ 2021 c 253 § 5.]
NOTES:
Rule-making authority—Worker safety and health—2021 c 253: See note following RCW 49.17.130.
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 51 - Industrial Insurance
Chapter 51.04 - General Provisions.
51.04.010 - Declaration of police power—Jurisdiction of courts abolished.
51.04.020 - Powers and duties.
51.04.024 - Establishment of investigation unit—Receipt and use of criminal history information.
51.04.030 - Medical aid—Rules—Maximum fees—Records and bill payment.
51.04.050 - Physician or licensed advanced registered nurse practitioner's testimony not privileged.
51.04.060 - No evasion of benefits or burdens.
51.04.063 - Injured worker options—Claim resolution settlement agreements.
51.04.065 - Claim resolution settlement agreements—Availability of copies.
51.04.069 - Claim resolution settlement agreements—Reports and studies.
51.04.070 - Minor worker is sui juris—Guardianship expense.
51.04.080 - Sending notices, orders, payments to claimants.
51.04.082 - Notices and orders—Mail, personal service, or electronic means.
51.04.085 - Transmission of amounts payable.
51.04.090 - Effect of adjudication of applicability.
51.04.100 - Statutes of limitation saved.
51.04.105 - Continuation of medical aid contracts.
51.04.110 - Workers' compensation advisory committee.
51.04.120 - Certificate of coverage required—Contents.
51.04.130 - Industrial insurance coverage for Hanford workers—Special agreements.
51.04.153 - Fraud—Underground economy—Finding—Use of best practices.
51.04.160 - Logger safety initiative—Task force—Report.
51.04.165 - Information about scholarship opportunities—Costs.
51.04.170 - Firefighter safety—Department must establish best practices.
51.04.180 - State of emergency—Safety grant program expenditures—Procedures.