The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is considering raising the fee to register, renew or be reinstated as a contractor by 5.79%. The amount of the increase is the state Office of Financial Management’s maximum allowable fiscal growth factor rate for fiscal year 2022.
The increase is needed to ensure the Contractor Registration program remains consistent with fee increases required by statute and to help improve the program’s fund balance.
L&I is required to charge a fee for issuing or renewing a certificate of registration and to revise the fee at least once every two years in recognition of economic changes as reflected by the fiscal growth factor under chapter 43.135 RCW.
The current fee for a certificate of registration is $117.90. The certificate of registration lasts for two years.
The fee increase would affect WAC 296-200A-900, What fees does the department charge contractors for issuance, renewal, reregistration, and reinstatement of certificates of registration?
The agency filed a Preproposal Statement of Inquiry (CR-101) about the fee increase on October 19, 2021.
Opportunities to Comment:
There will be opportunities to provide written comments or present testimony at public hearings. You can find information about this rulemaking by going online to the agency’s “Rulemaking Activity” page.
If adopted, the new fees would take effect April 22, 2022.
Here’s What Happens Next:
- October 19, 2021: Pre-proposal (CR-101) filed with the state Office of the Code Reviser.
- December 21, 2021: The Proposed rules (CR-102) are expected to be filed with the state Office of the Code Reviser
- January 26, 2022: A public hearing on the proposed rules is tentatively scheduled.
- March 22, 2022: The final rules (CR-103) are expected to be filed with the state Office of the Code Reviser.
- April 22, 2022: The new rules are expected to take effect.
L&I may be considering additional fiscal growth factor fee increases for Contractor Registration for fiscal years 2023 and 2024. We will have more information as these possible rulemakings move forward.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Melissa McBride at [email protected], or call 360-902-5731. L&I Newsroom.
