Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

AGO 1961 NO. 53 >

(1) The board against discrimination has the exclusive authority to administer complaints alleging discrimination because of age. (2) Chapter 49.08 RCW does not authorize the department of labor and industries to adjust differences between employer and employee resulting from discrimination because of age. (3) The department of labor and industries has exclusive authority to approve age limits established by employers or licensing agencies pursuant to § 5, chapter 100, Laws of 1961. (4) Chapter 100, Laws of 1961, prohibits discrimination because of age only with respect to persons between the age of forty and sixty-five years. (5) Chapter 100, Laws of 1961, applies only to those employers who have eight or more employees and are not religious or sectarian organizations organized for private profit.

AGO 1964 NO. 120 >

The state acting through the department of labor and industries may not require each electrician-employee of an electrical contracting firm (which firm is licensed by the state under chapter 19.28 RCW) to obtain an individual state license.  The state license issued to the firm which entitles it to engage in business "in any and all places in the state of Washington" precludes a city or town from requiring a local license of the employees of such firm.