H-2A Bill Implementation Update Employment Security Advisory Committee Meeting Dan Zeitlin Director of Employment System Policy Employment Security Department July 22, 2019

Agenda Bill Overview Update: Advisory Committee Update: Office of Agriculture and Seasonal Workforce Services (ASWS) Questions

Bill Overview Key Dates May 21, 2019: SB5438 Signed Into Law July 1, 2019: Funding Available July 28, 2019: Effective Date October 31, 2020: Advisory Committee Report Due

Bill Overview Goals Address insufficient federal funding to adequately ensure the protection of workers and growers. Ensure H-2A growth does not have an adverse impact on the domestic agricultural labor force. Clarify the state’s role in the H-2A program to provide adequate protections for foreign and domestic workers and provide education and outreach opportunities to help growers maintain the stable workforce they need.

Bill Overview Office of Agriculture and Seasonal Workforce Services (ASWS) Process and adjudicate applications. Process complaints. Conduct field checks and field visits. Administer discontinuation and reinstatement of services. Conduct training and outreach activities.

Bill Overview Agriculture and Seasonal Workforce Services Advisory Committee Comment on department rulemaking, policies, and implementation of the bill, as well as study issues it determines require consideration. Identify and recommend approaches to increase recruitment and hiring of domestic workers. Analyze cost incurred to administer H-2A program. Report due in even years.

Update: Advisory Committee Committee Worker Representatives Michele Besso, Attorney, Northwest Justice Project Rosalinda Guillen, Executive Director, Community to Community Eric Nicholson, Vice-President, United Farm Workers Ramon Torres (Farmworker), President, Familias Unidas por la Justicia (FUJ)

Update: Advisory Committee Committee Employer Representatives Jon Devaney, President, Washington State Tree Fruit Association Michael Gempler, Executive Director, Washington Growers League Delia Pena, Director of Orchard HR and H-2A, Zirkle Fruit Company Rosella Mosby (Employer), Owner Operator, Mosby Farms

Update: Advisory Committee Key Items First meeting on August 26, 2019 in Olympia. Subject to Open Public Meetings Act. Will approve charter, bylaws and schedule/location for meetings through October 31, 2020.

Update: ASWS Structure 14 FTE funded Director Administrative Support Program Coordinators (Process H-2A and H-2B Applications) Field Specialists Policy Staff Wage Survey Staff in Different Unit

Update: ASWS Director Opportunity Build new office to provide adequate protections for workers and help growers maintain the stable workforce they need. Oversee ESD role in H-2A and H-2B programs. Establish and model a high performance work environment. Build, develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with stakeholders.

H-2A Bill Implementation Questions?