Entertainers and adult entertainment establishments — Employee training — Panic buttons — Recording of allegations — Safety and security requirements — Enforcement — Definitions.

RCW 49.17.470
in effect
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(1)(a) The department shall develop or contract for the development of training for entertainers. The training must include, but not be limited to: (i) Education about the rights and responsibilities of entertainers, including with respect to working as an employee or independent contractor; (ii) Reporting of workplace injuries, including sexual and physical abuse and sexual harassment; (iii) The risk of human trafficking; (iv) Financial aspects of the entertainer profession; and (v) Resources for assistance. (b) As a condition of receiving or renewing an adult entertainer license issued by a local government on or after July 1, 2020, an entertainer must provide proof that the entertainer took the training described in (a) of this subsection. The department must make the training reasonably available to allow entertainers sufficient time to take the training in order to receive or renew their licenses on or after July 1, 2020. (2)(a) An adult entertainment establishment must provide training to its employees other than entertainers to minimize occurrences of unprofessional behavior and enable employees to support entertainers in times of conflict. (b) An establishment must require all employees other than entertainers to complete the training by the later of: (i) March 1, 2025; or (ii) within 30 days of hiring for recorded content or 120 days of hiring for live courses. Employees must complete the training at least every two years thereafter. (c) The training content must be developed and provided by a third-party qualified professional with experience and expertise in personnel training. If possible, the training should be designed for use by adult entertainment establishments. When practicable, the training must be translated if necessary for one or more non-English-speaking employees to understand the training. (d) The training topics must include, but are not limited to: (i) Preventing sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, and assault in the workplace; (ii) Information on how to identify and report human trafficking; (iii) Conflict de-escalation between entertainers, other employees, and patrons; and (iv) Providing first aid. (e) An adult entertainment establishment must offer entertainers the ability to opt in to trainings offered under this subsection. (f) The department may require annual reporting on training required under this subsection in a manner determined by the department. (3) An adult entertainment establishment must provide an accessible panic button in each room in the establishment in which an entertainer may be alone with a customer, and in bathrooms and dressing rooms. An entertainer may use the panic button if the entertainer has been harmed, reasonably believes there is a risk of harm, or there is another emergency in the entertainer's presence. The entertainer may cease work and leave the immediate area to await the arrival of assistance. The establishment must provide to the department, at least annually, proof of compliance with this subsection and maintenance records showing that panic buttons are maintained and checked to ensure they are in working condition. (4)(a) An adult entertainment establishment must record the allegations it receives that a customer has committed sex trafficking, prostitution, promotion of prostitution, or an act of violence, including assault, sexual assault, or sexual harassment, towards an entertainer. The establishment must make every effort to obtain the customer's name and if the establishment cannot determine the name, it must record as much identifying information about the customer as is reasonably possible. The establishment must retain a record of the customer's identifying information and written detail about the incident for at least five years after the most recent allegation. (b) If an allegation involving a customer is supported by a statement made under penalty of perjury or other evidence, the adult entertainment establishment must decline to allow the customer to return to the establishment for at least three years after the date of the incident. The establishment must share the information about the customer with other establishments with common ownership and those establishments with common ownership must also decline to allow the customer to enter those establishments for at least three years after the date of the incident. No entertainer may be required to provide such a statement. (c) An establishment must have written policies and procedures for implementing the requirements of this subsection, which must include a process for employees and entertainers to record allegations involving a customer under this subsection. Upon the request of the department, an establishment must make written policies and procedures and any records under this subsection available for inspection by the department. (5) An adult entertainment establishment must provide at least one dedicated security person on the premises during operating hours whose primary duty is security, including monitoring interactions between entertainers and patrons. The department must adopt rules for requiring security persons to not have duties other than security during peak operating hours when necessary, and requiring additional security persons when necessary. The rules must take into account: (a) The size of the establishment; (b) The layout and floor plan of the establishment; (c) The occupancy and patron volume; (d) Security cameras and panic buttons; (e) The history of security events at the establishment; and (f) Other factors identified by the department. (6) An adult entertainment establishment must: (a) Provide appropriate cleaning supplies at all stage performance areas; (b) Equip dressing or locker rooms for entertainers with a keypad requiring a code to enter; and (c) Display signage at the entrance directing customers to resources on appropriate etiquette. (7) An adult entertainment establishment must have written processes and procedures accessible to all employees and entertainers for: (a) Responding to customer violence or criminal activity, including when police are called; and (b) Ejecting customers who violate club policies, including intoxication or other inappropriate or illegal behavior. (8)(a) For the purposes of enforcement, except for subsection (1) of this section, this section shall be considered a safety or health standard under this chapter. (b) If an establishment is eligible for and applies for a license under chapter 66.24 RCW and any applicable rules, the liquor and cannabis board must notify the department. The department must conduct an inspection of the establishment to verify compliance with this section within 90 days of receipt of the notice under this subsection. The department must share information regarding violations of this section with the liquor and cannabis board. (c) The liquor and cannabis board must notify the department if it observes a violation of subsection (3), (5), or (6) of this section on the premises of any establishment operating with a license under chapter 66.24 RCW. (9) This section does not affect an employer's responsibility to provide a place of employment free from recognized hazards or to otherwise comply with this chapter and other employment laws. (10) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (a) "Adult entertainment" means any exhibition, performance, or dance of any type conducted within the view of one or more members of the public inside a premises where such exhibition, performance, or dance involves an entertainer, who is unclothed or in such attire, costume, or clothing as to expose to view any portion of the breast below the top of the areola or any portion of the pubic region, anus, vulva, or genitals, with an intent to sexually arouse or excite another person. (b) "Adult entertainment establishment" or "establishment" means any business to which the public, patrons, or members are invited or admitted where an entertainer provides adult entertainment to a member of the public, a patron, or a member. (c) "Entertainer" means any person who provides adult entertainment within an adult entertainment establishment, whether or not a fee is charged or accepted for entertainment and whether or not the person is an employee under RCW 49.17.020 . (d) "Panic button" means an emergency contact device by which the entertainer may summon immediate on-scene assistance from another entertainer, a security guard, or a representative of the adult entertainment establishment. (1)(a) The department shall develop or contract for the development of training for entertainers. The training must include, but not be limited to: (i) Education about the rights and responsibilities of entertainers, including with respect to working as an employee or independent contractor; (ii) Reporting of workplace injuries, including sexual and physical abuse and sexual harassment; (iii) The risk of human trafficking; (iv) Financial aspects of the entertainer profession; and (v) Resources for assistance. (b) As a condition of receiving or renewing an adult entertainer license issued by a local government on or after July 1, 2020, an entertainer must provide proof that the entertainer took the training described in (a) of this subsection. The department must make the training reasonably available to allow entertainers sufficient time to take the training in order to receive or renew their licenses on or after July 1, 2020. (2)(a) An adult entertainment establishment must provide training to its employees other than entertainers to minimize occurrences of unprofessional behavior and enable employees to support entertainers in times of conflict. (b) An establishment must require all employees other than entertainers to complete the training by the later of: (i) March 1, 2025; or (ii) within 30 days of hiring for recorded content or 120 days of hiring for live courses. Employees must complete the training at least every two years thereafter. (c) The training content must be developed and provided by a third-party qualified professional with experience and expertise in personnel training. If possible, the training should be designed for use by adult entertainment establishments. When practicable, the training must be translated if necessary for one or more non-English-speaking employees to understand the training. (d) The training topics must include, but are not limited to: (i) Preventing sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, and assault in the workplace; (ii) Information on how to identify and report human trafficking; (iii) Conflict de-escalation between entertainers, other employees, and patrons; and (iv) Providing first aid. (e) An adult entertainment establishment must offer entertainers the ability to opt in to trainings offered under this subsection. (f) The department may require annual reporting on training required under this subsection in a manner determined by the department. (3) An adult entertainment establishment must provide an accessible panic button in each room in the establishment in which an entertainer may be alone with a customer, and in bathrooms and dressing rooms. An entertainer may use the panic button if the entertainer has been harmed, reasonably believes there is a risk of harm, or there is another emergency in the entertainer's presence. The entertainer may cease work and leave the immediate area to await the arrival of assistance. The establishment must provide to the department, at least annually, proof of compliance with this subsection and maintenance records showing that panic buttons are maintained and checked to ensure they are in working condition. (4)(a) An adult entertainment establishment must record the allegations it receives that a customer has committed sex trafficking, prostitution, promotion of prostitution, or an act of violence, including assault, sexual assault, or sexual harassment, towards an entertainer. The establishment must make every effort to obtain the customer's name and if the establishment cannot determine the name, it must record as much identifying information about the customer as is reasonably possible. The establishment must retain a record of the customer's identifying information and written detail about the incident for at least five years after the most recent allegation. (b) If an allegation involving a customer is supported by a statement made under penalty of perjury or other evidence, the adult entertainment establishment must decline to allow the customer to return to the establishment for at least three years after the date of the incident. The establishment must share the information about the customer with other establishments with common ownership and those establishments with common ownership must also decline to allow the customer to enter those establishments for at least three years after the date of the incident. No entertainer may be required to provide such a statement. (c) An establishment must have written policies and procedures for implementing the requirements of this subsection, which must include a process for employees and entertainers to record allegations involving a customer under this subsection. Upon the request of the department, an establishment must make written policies and procedures and any records under this subsection available for inspection by the department. (5) An adult entertainment establishment must provide at least one dedicated security person on the premises during operating hours whose primary duty is security, including monitoring interactions between entertainers and patrons. The department must adopt rules for requiring security persons to not have duties other than security during peak operating hours when necessary, and requiring additional security persons when necessary. The rules must take into account: (a) The size of the establishment; (b) The layout and floor plan of the establishment; (c) The occupancy and patron volume; (d) Security cameras and panic buttons; (e) The history of security events at the establishment; and (f) Other factors identified by the department. (6) An adult entertainment establishment must: (a) Provide appropriate cleaning supplies at all stage performance areas; (b) Equip dressing or locker rooms for entertainers with a keypad requiring a code to enter; and (c) Display signage at the entrance directing customers to resources on appropriate etiquette. (7) An adult entertainment establishment must have written processes and procedures accessible to all employees and entertainers for: (a) Responding to customer violence or criminal activity, including when police are called; and (b) Ejecting customers who violate club policies, including intoxication or other inappropriate or illegal behavior. (8)(a) For the purposes of enforcement, except for subsection (1) of this section, this section shall be considered a safety or health standard under this chapter. (b) If an establishment is eligible for and applies for a license under chapter 66.24 RCW and any applicable rules, the liquor and cannabis board must notify the department. The department must conduct an inspection of the establishment to verify compliance with this section within 90 days of receipt of the notice under this subsection. The department must share information regarding violations of this section with the liquor and cannabis board. (c) The liquor and cannabis board must notify the department if it observes a violation of subsection (3), (5), or (6) of this section on the premises of any establishment operating with a license under chapter 66.24 RCW. (9) This section does not affect an employer's responsibility to provide a place of employment free from recognized hazards or to otherwise comply with this chapter and other employment laws. (10) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (a) "Adult entertainment" means any exhibition, performance, or dance of any type conducted within the view of one or more members of the public inside a premises where such exhibition, performance, or dance involves an entertainer, who is unclothed or in such attire, costume, or clothing as to expose to view any portion of the breast below the top of the areola or any portion of the pubic region, anus, vulva, or genitals, with an intent to sexually arouse or excite another person. (b) "Adult entertainment establishment" or "establishment" means any business to which the public, patrons, or members are invited or admitted where an entertainer provides adult entertainment to a member of the public, a patron, or a member. (c) "Entertainer" means any person who provides adult entertainment within an adult entertainment establishment, whether or not a fee is charged or accepted for entertainment and whether or not the person is an employee under RCW 49.17.020 . (d) "Panic button" means an emergency contact device by which the entertainer may summon immediate on-scene assistance from another entertainer, a security guard, or a representative of the adult entertainment establishment.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=49.17&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026

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