Agricultural and Seasonal Workforce Services Advisory Committee
On May 21, 2019, the Governor signed Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5438 (C 441, L 2020) establishing the Office of Agricultural and Seasonal Workforce Services and associated Advisory Committee. The bill clarifies the state’s role in the H-2A temporary agricultural 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. The bill directs the new office to carry out the Employment Security Department’s oversight and outreach responsibilities as they pertain to the H-2A program.
The key responsibilities of the Advisory Committee include advising the Department on the Office’s operations and submitting a report to the Legislature and Governor in even-numbered years that:
- Identifies and recommends approaches to increase the effectiveness of the Department’s recruitment process as part of the H-2A application, which may include recommended changes to state law that would increase the recruitment and hiring of domestic agriculture workers in Washington, and
- Analyzes the cost incurred by the Department to administer the H-2A and other farmworker programs and the amount of funds allocated by the federal government to administer the H-2A program and all other programs within the Department.
Next Meeting:
- Thursday, January 21, 2021 from 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Due to meeting restriction guidelines laid out by state government, this meeting will be conducted via WebEx only. Please use call in information below:
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RECORDING DISCLAIMER: This meeting may be recorded. Please be advised that if the meeting is recorded, your image and voice will be captured and recorded during the videoconference. Your participation in this videoconference equals consent to be recorded as required by law. Questions about the collection may be addressed to Norma Chavez, Director Agriculture and Seasonal Workforce Services at 815 N Kellogg Street, Suite D, Kennewick, WA 99336 or 509-734-5922.
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Advisory committee contacts at the Employment Security Department:
Norma Chavez
Director, Office of Agricultural and Seasonal Workforce Services
nchavez@esd.wa.gov
Tamara Johnson
Administrative Assistant
tjohnson@esd.wa.gov
Advisory Committee Voting Members
Michele Besso
Representing Agricultural Workers
Attorney, Northwest Justice Project
Jon DeVaney
Representing Agricultural Employers
President, Washington State Tree Fruit Association
Mike Gempler
Representing Agricultural Employers
Executive Director, Washington Growers League
Rosalinda Guillen
Representing Agricultural Workers
Executive Director, Community to Community
Delia Pena
Representing Agricultural Employers
Director of Orchard HR and H-2A, Zirkle Fruit Company
Jeff Perrault
Representing Agricultural Employers
Owner, Perrault Farms
Victoria Ruddy
Representing Agricultural Workers
Pacific Northwest Regional Director,
United Farm Workers
Ramon Torres (Farmworker)
Representing Agricultural Workers
President, Familias Unidas por la Justicia
Advisory Committee Non- Voting Members (Agency)
Uriel Iniguez
Representing Department of Labor and Industries
Director, Community Relations
Ignacio Marquez
Representing Department of Agriculture
Regional Assistant to the Director - Eastern/Central WA
Todd Phillips
Representing Department of Health
Director, Environmental Health & Safety
Dan Zeitlin
Advisory Committee Chair
Representing Employment Security Department
Director, Policy, Data, Performance and Integrity Division
This committee was formed in accordance with statute which requires four members representing agricultural workers; four members representing agricultural employers; and four ex-officio members representing state agencies. Meetings are open to all interested parties who wish to attend and are a matter of public record.
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