Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official page posted by the Washington Legislature, fetched 2026-08-29. This is the chaptered version. The official bill page.
CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT SENATE BILL 6188 Chapter 179, Laws of 2026 69TH LEGISLATURE 2026 REGULAR SESSION ASBESTOS WORKER TRAINING—RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY OF DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIES EFFECTIVE DATE: June 11, 2026 Passed by the Senate March 10, 2026 Yeas 30 Nays 19 DENNY HECK President of the Senate Passed by the House March 3, 2026 Yeas 61 Nays 33 LAURIE JINKINS Speaker of the House of Representatives CERTIFICATE I, Sarah Bannister, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SENATE BILL 6188 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth. SARAH BANNISTER Secretary Secretary Approved March 24, 2026 10:38 AM FILED March 25, 2026 BOB FERGUSON Governor of the State of Washington Secretary of State State of Washington SENATE BILL 6188 AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE Passed Legislature - 2026 Regular Session State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By Senators Hunt, Conway, and Nobles; by request of Department of Labor & Industries Read first time 01/16/26. Referred to Committee on Labor & Commerce. AN ACT Relating to department of labor and industries' authority to enact rules related to regulating asbestos training; and amending RCW 49.26.110. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON: Sec. 1. RCW 49.26.110 and 2011 c 301 s 14 are each amended to read as follows: (1) No employee or other individual is eligible to do work governed by this chapter unless issued a certificate by the department. (2) To qualify for a certificate: (a) Certified asbestos workers must have successfully completed a four-day training course. Certified asbestos supervisors must have completed a five-day training course. Training courses shall be provided or approved by the department; shall cover such topics as the health and safety aspects of the removal and encapsulation of asbestos, including but not limited to the federal and state standards regarding protective clothing, respirator use, disposal, air monitoring, cleaning, and decontamination; and shall meet such additional qualifications as may be established by the department by rule for the type of certification sought. The department may require the successful completion of annual refresher courses provided or approved by the department for continued certification as an asbestos worker or supervisor. ((However, the authority of the director to adopt rules implementing this section is limited to rules that are specifically required, and only to the extent specifically required, for the standards to be as stringent as the applicable federal laws governing work subject to this chapter ))Rules adopted by the department must be: (i) Based on the best available evidence, established best practices, and nationally recognized industry standards; and (ii) the least burdensome to applicants necessary to address safety and health hazards ; and (b) All applicants for certification as asbestos workers or supervisors must pass an examination in the type of certification sought which shall be provided or approved by the department. These requirements are intended to represent the minimum requirements for certification and shall not preclude contractors or employers from providing additional education or training. (3) The department shall provide for the reciprocal certification of any individual trained to engage in asbestos projects in another state when the prior training is shown to be substantially similar to the training required by the department. Nothing shall prevent the department from requiring such individuals to take an examination or refresher course before certification. (4) The department may deny, suspend, or revoke a certificate, as provided under RCW 49.26.140, for failure of the holder to comply with any requirement of this chapter or chapter 49.17 RCW, or any rule adopted under those chapters, or applicable health and safety standards and regulations. In addition to any penalty imposed under RCW 49.26.016, the department may suspend or revoke any certificate issued under this chapter for a period of not less than six months upon the following grounds: (a) The certificate was obtained through error or fraud; or (b) The holder thereof is judged to be incompetent to carry out the work for which the certificate was issued. Before any certificate may be denied, suspended, or revoked, the holder thereof shall be given written notice of the department's intention to do so, mailed using a method by which the mailing can be tracked or the delivery can be confirmed to the holder's last known address. The notice shall enumerate the allegations against such holder, and shall give him or her the opportunity to request a hearing before the department. At such hearing, the department and the holder shall have opportunity to produce witnesses and give testimony. (5) A denial, suspension, or revocation order may be appealed to the board of industrial insurance appeals within ((fifteen ))15 working days after the denial, suspension, or revocation order is entered. The notice of appeal may be filed with the department or the board of industrial insurance appeals. The board of industrial insurance appeals shall hold the hearing in accordance with procedures established in RCW 49.17.140. Any party aggrieved by an order of the board of industrial insurance appeals may obtain superior court review in the manner provided in RCW 49.17.150. (6) Each person certified under this chapter shall display, upon the request of an authorized representative of the department, valid identification issued by the department. Passed by the Senate March 10, 2026. Passed by the House March 3, 2026. Approved by the Governor March 24, 2026. Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 25, 2026.
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