SGA 9208
In CommitteeSenate
CAMI FEEK
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill reappoints Camille Feek as Director of the Employment Security Department, effective January 15, 2025, with the position lasting until the governor decides otherwise. As agency head, she will oversee unemployment insurance, job services, and workforce programs across the state.
- Reappoints Camille Feek as Director of the Employment Security Department.
- Sets the term to end at the governor's pleasure, meaning the director serves at the discretion of the governor and can be replaced at any time.
- Confirms the director as the agency head of ESD, giving them full authority over the department’s operations and staff.
Who is affected
- Employment Security Department (ESD) staff and leadership — The director leads the state agency responsible for administering unemployment insurance, job placement services, and workforce programs across Washington.
- Unemployment insurance claimants and job seekers — Workers who file unemployment claims, seek job assistance, or participate in state workforce programs will continue to be served under the leadership of the reappointed director.
- Washington employers and businesses — Businesses that pay unemployment taxes and interact with ESD for workforce services or compliance matters will continue to work with the same agency leadership.
- State budget and policy planners — State government operations and budget planning are affected by continuity in ESD leadership, especially during economic shifts that impact unemployment claims.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (3)
Continuity in ESD leadership supports stable administration of unemployment insurance and workforce programs, reducing disruption risk during economic uncertainty and allowing ongoing initiatives (e.g., pandemic recovery, AI-driven job matching pilots) to mature.
Local GovernmentRef: Section 1Continuity under Feek may improve employer-ESD relations through consistent communication and predictable processing of unemployment tax filings and workforce service requests, especially for small businesses reliant on ESD for job-matching tools.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Section 1Stable leadership helps ensure consistent enforcement of workforce compliance rules (e.g., wage reporting, misclassification investigations), which supports fair labor standards and reduces exploitation risks for low-wage workers.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Section 1
Potential Concerns (1)
This reappointment maintains continuity in leadership of a critical state agency, but provides no new accountability mechanisms or performance benchmarks for the director — potentially entrenching existing management practices without oversight improvements.
Local GovernmentRef: Section 1
Who Is Most Affected
ESD staff benefit from continuity in leadership, which reduces uncertainty about program priorities and internal restructuring; however, without new accountability measures, long-term staff morale may not improve if systemic issues (e.g., backlogs, tech modernization delays) persist.
Unemployment claimants and job seekers benefit from continuity in service delivery, especially those relying on ESD for rapid claims processing and digital access to job training; however, without new reforms, systemic delays (e.g., appeals wait times) may persist.
Employers gain predictability in interactions with ESD (e.g., tax rate determinations, workforce training partnerships); however, large employers may benefit more than small ones due to existing ESD service models favoring high-volume clients.
State budget planners benefit from stable leadership during economic transitions (e.g., potential recession), as ESD leadership can more effectively forecast UI trust fund solvency and adjust program spending; however, this is neutral without new fiscal safeguards.