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SB 5932

Reducing the number of days that a worker's temporary total disability must continue to receive industrial insurance compensation for the day of an injury and the three-day period following the injury.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Bob Hasegawa and 3 co-sponsors

SB 5932 shortens Washington's workers' compensation waiting period, enabling injured workers to receive temporary disability benefits faster rather than waiting four days after workplace injury.

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:30 AM.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 5932

Legislative bill overview

SB 5932 modifies Washington State's workers' compensation system by reducing the waiting period before temporary total disability (TTD) benefits begin. Currently, workers must wait through the day of injury plus three additional days before receiving compensation; this bill would shorten that waiting period, allowing workers to receive benefits sooner after workplace injuries.

Why is this important

Workers facing temporary total disability due to workplace injuries currently lose four days of income during the initial waiting period. Shortening this period would provide faster financial relief to injured workers during a vulnerable time, though it also increases costs to the workers' compensation insurance system, which could affect employer premiums and state industrial insurance fund reserves.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost implications: Reducing the waiting period expands benefit payouts, potentially increasing premiums for employers and straining the state's workers' compensation fund
  • Insurance system sustainability: Washington's industrial insurance fund operates on a finite budget; expanded benefits without corresponding revenue increases could create long-term solvency questions
  • Worker need vs. fiscal responsibility: Balances legitimate worker hardship during injury recovery against state budgetary constraints and the principle that workers' comp should remain self-sustaining through employer contributions

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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