OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — An initiative to allow private insurers to offer coverage for workplace injuries has qualified for the November ballot.
Secretary of State Sam Reed certified Initiative 1082 Tuesday after workers checked a random sample of more than 340,000 voter signatures. About 241,000 signatures are required to qualify.
The I-1082 campaign is led by the Building Industry Association of Washington, a trade group active in conservative politics. Insurers and other statewide business groups also are supporting the initiative.
Washington is one of four states that do not allow private insurers to offer workers’ compensation coverage, although businesses can self-insure. I-1082 would allow private firms to compete with the state system.
