19.31.010 – Short title.

RCW 19.31.010 Short title. This chapter shall be known and cited as “The Employment Agency Act”. [ 1969 ex.s. c 228 § 1.]

19.31.020 – Definitions.

RCW 19.31.020 Definitions. Unless a different meaning is clearly required by the context, the following words and phrases, as hereinafter used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings: (1) “Applicant,” except when used to describe an applicant for an employment agency license, means any person, whether employed or unemployed, seeking or entering into any […]

19.31.030 – Records.

RCW 19.31.030 Records. Each employment agency shall keep records of all services rendered employers and applicants. These records shall contain the name and address of the employer by whom the services were solicited; the name and address of the applicant; kind of position ordered by the employer; dates job orders or job listings are obtained; […]

19.31.040 – Contract between agency and applicant—Contents—Notice.

RCW 19.31.040 Contract between agency and applicant—Contents—Notice. An employment agency shall provide each applicant with a copy of the contract between the applicant and employment agency which shall have printed on it or attached to it a copy of RCW 19.31.170 as now or hereafter amended. Such contract shall contain the following: (1) The name, […]

19.31.050 – Approval of contract, fee schedule.

RCW 19.31.050 Approval of contract, fee schedule. Prior to using any contract or fee schedule in the transaction of its business with applicants, each employment agency shall obtain the director’s approval for the use of such contract or fee schedule. [ 1969 ex.s. c 228 § 5.]

19.31.060 – Request from employer for interview required—Information to be furnished applicant.

RCW 19.31.060 Request from employer for interview required—Information to be furnished applicant. No employment agency shall send any applicant on an interview with a prospective employer without having first obtained, either orally or in writing, a bona fide request from such employer for the interview: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That, it shall be the duty of every […]

19.31.070 – Administration of chapter—Rules—Investigations—Inspections.

RCW 19.31.070 Administration of chapter—Rules—Investigations—Inspections. (1) The director shall administer the provisions of this chapter and shall issue from time to time reasonable rules and regulations for enforcing and carrying out the provisions and purposes of this chapter. (2) The director shall have supervisory and investigative authority over all employment agencies. Upon receiving a complaint […]

19.31.080 – License required—Penalty.

RCW 19.31.080 License required—Penalty. It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to conduct an employment agency business in this state unless he or she has an employment agency license issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. [ 2011 c 336 § 532; 1969 ex.s. c 228 § 8.]

19.31.090 – Bond—Cash deposit—Action on bond or deposit—Procedure—Judgment.

RCW 19.31.090 Bond—Cash deposit—Action on bond or deposit—Procedure—Judgment. (1) Before conducting any business as an employment agency each licensee shall file with the director a surety bond in the sum of two thousand dollars running to the state of Washington, for the benefit of any person injured or damaged as a result of any violation […]

19.31.100 – Application—Contents—Filing—Qualifications of applicants and licensees—Waiver—Exceptions.

RCW 19.31.100 Application—Contents—Filing—Qualifications of applicants and licensees—Waiver—Exceptions. (1) Every applicant for an employment agency’s license or a renewal thereof shall file with the director a written application stating the name and address of the applicant; the street and number of the building in which the business of the employment agency is to be conducted; the […]

19.31.110 – Expiration date of license—Reinstatement.

RCW 19.31.110 Expiration date of license—Reinstatement. An employment agency license shall expire June 30th. Any such license not renewed may be reinstated if the employment agency can show good cause to the director for renewal of the license and present proof of intent to continue to act as an employment agency: PROVIDED, That no license […]

19.31.120 – Transfer of license.

RCW 19.31.120 Transfer of license. No license granted pursuant to this chapter shall be transferable without the consent of the director. No employment agency shall permit any person not mentioned in the license application to become connected with the business as an owner, member, officer, or director without the consent of the director. Consent may […]

19.31.130 – License sanction—Grounds—Support order, noncompliance.

RCW 19.31.130 License sanction—Grounds—Support order, noncompliance. (1) In accordance with the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW, the director may by order sanction the license of any employment agency under RCW 18.235.110, if the director finds that the applicant or licensee has violated any provisions of this chapter, or failed to comply with any rule or […]

19.31.140 – Fees for licensees.

RCW 19.31.140 Fees for licensees. The director shall determine the fees, as provided in RCW 43.24.086, charged to those parties licensed as employment agencies for original applications, renewal per year, branch license, both original and renewal, transfer of license, and approval of amended or new contracts and/or fee schedules. [ 1985 c 7 § 84; […]

19.31.150 – Employment condition precedent to charging fee—Exceptions.

RCW 19.31.150 Employment condition precedent to charging fee—Exceptions. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, no employment agency shall charge or accept a fee or other consideration from an applicant without complying with the terms of a written contract as specified in RCW 19.31.040, and then only after such […]

19.31.160 – Charging fee or payment contrary to chapter—Return of excess.

RCW 19.31.160 Charging fee or payment contrary to chapter—Return of excess. Any employment agency which collects, receives, or retains a fee or other payment contrary to the provisions of this chapter or to the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter shall return the excessive portion of the fee within seven days after receiving […]

19.31.170 – Limitations on fee amounts—Refunds—Exceptions.

RCW 19.31.170 Limitations on fee amounts—Refunds—Exceptions. (1) If an applicant accepts employment by agreement with an employer and thereafter never reports for work, the gross fee charged to the applicant shall not exceed: (a) Ten percent of what the first month’s gross salary or wages would be, if known; or (b) ten percent of the […]

19.31.180 – Posting of fee limitation and remedy provisions.

RCW 19.31.180 Posting of fee limitation and remedy provisions. Each licensee shall post the following in a conspicuous place in each office in which it conducts business: (1) The substance of RCW 19.31.150 through 19.31.170; and (2) a name and address provided by the director, in a form prescribed by him or her, of a […]

19.31.190 – Rules of conduct—Complaints.

RCW 19.31.190 Rules of conduct—Complaints. In addition to the other provisions of this chapter the following rules shall govern each and every employment agency: (1) Every license or a verified copy thereof shall be displayed in a conspicuous place in each office of the employment agency; (2) No fee shall be solicited or accepted as […]

19.31.210 – Enforcement.

RCW 19.31.210 Enforcement. The director may refer such evidence as may be available to him or her concerning violations of this chapter or of any rule or regulation adopted hereunder to the attorney general or the prosecuting attorney of the county wherein the alleged violation arose, who may, in their discretion, with or without such […]