Transportation network companies—Driver resource center fund—Selection of driver resource center—Intent.
(1) The legislature recognizes that providing education and outreach to drivers regarding their rights and obligations furthers the state's interest in having a vibrant knowledgeable work force and safe and satisfied consumers. The legislature therefore intends to create a way of providing education, outreach, and support to workers who, because of the nature of their work, do not have access to such support through traditional avenues.
(2) The driver resource center fund is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All moneys received from the remittance in RCW
49.46.300(12) must be deposited into the fund.
(3) Only the director of the department of labor and industries or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the fund. The fund is subject to allotment procedures under chapter
43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.
(4) The department may make expenditures from the fund for the following purposes:
(a) Services provided by the driver resource center, as defined in RCW
49.46.300, to drivers and administrative costs of providing such support. The department must distribute funding received by the account, exclusive of the department's administrative costs deducted under (b) of this subsection, to the center on a quarterly basis; and
(b) The department's costs of administering the fund and its duties under RCW
49.46.300, not to exceed 10 percent of revenues to the fund.
(5) Within four months of June 9, 2022, the director of the department or the director's designee shall, through a competitive process, select and contract with a qualified nonprofit organization to be the driver resource center.