RCW 51.12.020
Employments excluded. (Effective until July
1, 2009.)
The following are the only employments which shall not
be included within the mandatory coverage of this title:
(1) Any person employed as a domestic servant in a private
home by an employer who has less than two employees regularly
employed forty or more hours a week in such employment.
(2) Any person employed to do gardening, maintenance, or
repair, in or about the private home of the employer. For the
purposes of this subsection, "maintenance" means the work of
keeping in proper condition, "repair" means to restore to sound
condition after damage, and "private home" means a person's place
of residence.
(3) A person whose employment is not in the course of the
trade, business, or profession of his or her employer and is not
in or about the private home of the employer.
(4) Any person performing services in return for aid or
sustenance only, received from any religious or charitable
organization.
(5) Sole proprietors or partners.
(6) Any child under eighteen years of age employed by his or
her parent or parents in agricultural activities on the family
farm.
(7) Jockeys while participating in or preparing horses for
race meets licensed by the Washington horse racing commission
pursuant to chapter 67.16 RCW.
(8)(a) Except as otherwise provided in (b) of this
subsection, any bona fide officer of a corporation voluntarily
elected or voluntarily appointed in accordance with the articles
of incorporation or bylaws of the corporation, who at all times
during the period involved is also a bona fide director, and who
is also a shareholder of the corporation. Only such officers who
exercise substantial control in the daily management of the
corporation and whose primary responsibilities do not include the
performance of manual labor are included within this subsection.
(b) Alternatively, a corporation that is not a "public
company" as defined in *RCW 23B.01.400(21) may exempt eight or
fewer bona fide officers, who are voluntarily elected or
voluntarily appointed in accordance with the articles of
incorporation or bylaws of the corporation and who exercise
substantial control in the daily management of the corporation,
from coverage under this title without regard to the officers'
performance of manual labor if the exempted officer is a
shareholder of the corporation, or may exempt any number of
officers if all the exempted officers are related by blood within
the third degree or marriage. If a corporation that is not a
"public company" elects to be covered under subsection (8)(a) of
this section, the corporation's election must be made on a form
prescribed by the department and under such reasonable rules as
the department may adopt.
(c) Determinations respecting the status of persons
performing services for a corporation shall be made, in part, by
reference to Title 23B RCW and to compliance by the corporation
with its own articles of incorporation and bylaws. For the
purpose of determining coverage under this title, substance shall
control over form, and mandatory coverage under this title shall
extend to all workers of this state, regardless of honorary
titles conferred upon those actually serving as workers.
(d) A corporation may elect to cover officers who are
exempted by this subsection in the manner provided by RCW 51.12.110.
(9) Services rendered by a musician or entertainer under a
contract with a purchaser of the services, for a specific
engagement or engagements when such musician or entertainer
performs no other duties for the purchaser and is not regularly
and continuously employed by the purchaser. A purchaser does not
include the leader of a group or recognized entity who employs
other than on a casual basis musicians or entertainers.
(10) Services performed by a newspaper carrier selling or
distributing newspapers on the street or from house to house.
(11) Services performed by an insurance agent, insurance
broker, or insurance solicitor, as defined in RCW **48.17.010,
***48.17.020, and ***48.17.030, respectively.
(12) Services performed by a booth renter as defined in
****RCW 18.16.020. However, a person exempted under this
subsection may elect coverage under RCW 51.32.030.
(13) Members of a limited liability company, if either:
(a) Management of the company is vested in its members, and
the members for whom exemption is sought would qualify for
exemption under subsection (5) of this section were the company a
sole proprietorship or partnership; or
(b) Management of the company is vested in one or more
managers, and the members for whom the exemption is sought are
managers who would qualify for exemption under subsection (8) of
this section were the company a corporation.
[1999 c 68 § 1; 1997 c 314 § 18. Prior: 1991 c 324 § 18; 1991 c 246 § 4; 1987 c 316 § 2; 1983 c 252 § 1; 1982 c 63 § 15; 1981 c 128 § 3; 1979 c 128 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 323 § 7; 1973 c 124 § 1; 1972 ex.s. c 43 § 7; 1971 ex.s. c 289 § 3; 1961 c 23 § 51.12.020; prior: 1955 c 74 § 3; prior: 1947 c 281 § 1, part; 1943 c 210 § 1, part; 1939 c 41 § 1, part; 1937 c 211 § 1, part; 1927 c 310 § 1, part; 1921 c 182 § 1, part; 1919 c 131 § 1, part; 1911 c 74 § 2, part; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 7674, part.]
NOTES:
Reviser's note: *(1) RCW 23B.01.400 was amended by 2000 c
168 § 1, changing subsection (21) to subsection (22); and was
subsequently amended by 2002 c 297 § 9, changing subsection (22)
to subsection (24).
**(2) RCW 48.17.010 was amended by 2007 c 117 § 1, deleting
the definition of "agent," effective July 1, 2009.
***(3) RCW 48.17.020 and 48.17.030 were repealed by 2007 c
117 § 39, effective July 1, 2009.
****(4) RCW 18.16.020 was amended by 2002 c 111 § 2,
deleting the definition of "booth renter."
Severability -- 1991 c 324: See RCW 18.16.910.
Effective date -- Conflict with federal requirements -- 1991 c 246: See notes following RCW 51.08.195.
Effective dates -- Implementation -- 1982 c 63: See note following RCW 51.32.095.
Severability -- Effective date -- 1977 ex.s. c 323: See notes following RCW 51.04.040.
RCW 51.12.020
Employments excluded. (Effective July 1,
2009.)
The following are the only employments which shall not be
included within the mandatory coverage of this title:
(1) Any person employed as a domestic servant in a private
home by an employer who has less than two employees regularly
employed forty or more hours a week in such employment.
(2) Any person employed to do gardening, maintenance, or
repair, in or about the private home of the employer. For the
purposes of this subsection, "maintenance" means the work of
keeping in proper condition, "repair" means to restore to sound
condition after damage, and "private home" means a person's place
of residence.
(3) A person whose employment is not in the course of the
trade, business, or profession of his or her employer and is not
in or about the private home of the employer.
(4) Any person performing services in return for aid or
sustenance only, received from any religious or charitable
organization.
(5) Sole proprietors or partners.
(6) Any child under eighteen years of age employed by his or
her parent or parents in agricultural activities on the family
farm.
(7) Jockeys while participating in or preparing horses for
race meets licensed by the Washington horse racing commission
pursuant to chapter 67.16 RCW.
(8)(a) Except as otherwise provided in (b) of this
subsection, any bona fide officer of a corporation voluntarily
elected or voluntarily appointed in accordance with the articles
of incorporation or bylaws of the corporation, who at all times
during the period involved is also a bona fide director, and who
is also a shareholder of the corporation. Only such officers who
exercise substantial control in the daily management of the
corporation and whose primary responsibilities do not include the
performance of manual labor are included within this subsection.
(b) Alternatively, a corporation that is not a "public
company" as defined in RCW 23B.01.400(24) may exempt eight or
fewer bona fide officers, who are voluntarily elected or
voluntarily appointed in accordance with the articles of
incorporation or bylaws of the corporation and who exercise
substantial control in the daily management of the corporation,
from coverage under this title without regard to the officers'
performance of manual labor if the exempted officer is a
shareholder of the corporation, or may exempt any number of
officers if all the exempted officers are related by blood within
the third degree or marriage. If a corporation that is not a
"public company" elects to be covered under subsection (8)(a) of
this section, the corporation's election must be made on a form
prescribed by the department and under such reasonable rules as
the department may adopt.
(c) Determinations respecting the status of persons
performing services for a corporation shall be made, in part, by
reference to Title 23B RCW and to compliance by the corporation
with its own articles of incorporation and bylaws. For the
purpose of determining coverage under this title, substance shall
control over form, and mandatory coverage under this title shall
extend to all workers of this state, regardless of honorary
titles conferred upon those actually serving as workers.
(d) A corporation may elect to cover officers who are
exempted by this subsection in the manner provided by RCW 51.12.110.
(9) Services rendered by a musician or entertainer under a
contract with a purchaser of the services, for a specific
engagement or engagements when such musician or entertainer
performs no other duties for the purchaser and is not regularly
and continuously employed by the purchaser. A purchaser does not
include the leader of a group or recognized entity who employs
other than on a casual basis musicians or entertainers.
(10) Services performed by a newspaper carrier selling or
distributing newspapers on the street or from house to house.
(11) Services performed by an insurance producer, as defined
in RCW 48.17.010(5).
(12) Services performed by a booth renter. However, a
person exempted under this subsection may elect coverage under
RCW 51.32.030.
(13) Members of a limited liability company, if either:
(a) Management of the company is vested in its members, and
the members for whom exemption is sought would qualify for
exemption under subsection (5) of this section were the company a
sole proprietorship or partnership; or
(b) Management of the company is vested in one or more
managers, and the members for whom the exemption is sought are
managers who would qualify for exemption under subsection (8) of
this section were the company a corporation.
[2008 c 217 § 98; 1999 c 68 § 1; 1997 c 314 § 18. Prior: 1991 c 324 § 18; 1991 c 246 § 4; 1987 c 316 § 2; 1983 c 252 § 1; 1982 c 63 § 15; 1981 c 128 § 3; 1979 c 128 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 323 § 7; 1973 c 124 § 1; 1972 ex.s. c 43 § 7; 1971 ex.s. c 289 § 3; 1961 c 23 § 51.12.020; prior: 1955 c 74 § 3; prior: 1947 c 281 § 1, part; 1943 c 210 § 1, part; 1939 c 41 § 1, part; 1937 c 211 § 1, part; 1927 c 310 § 1, part; 1921 c 182 § 1, part; 1919 c 131 § 1, part; 1911 c 74 § 2, part; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 7674, part.]
NOTES:
Severability -- Effective date -- 2008 c 217: See notes following RCW 48.03.020.
Severability -- 1991 c 324: See RCW 18.16.910.
Effective date -- Conflict with federal requirements -- 1991 c 246: See notes following RCW 51.08.195.
Effective dates -- Implementation -- 1982 c 63: See note following RCW 51.32.095.
Severability -- Effective date -- 1977 ex.s. c 323: See notes following RCW 51.04.040.