HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1098

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by House Committee On:

State Government & Tribal Affairs

Title: An act relating to computing the rate of vacation leave accrual for employees formerly employed by a school district.

Brief Description: Regarding computing the rate of vacation leave accrual for state employees formerly employed by a school district.

Sponsors: Representative Hunt.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

State Government & Tribal Affairs: 1/16/09, 1/29/09 [DPS].

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

  • Allows former certified and classified school district employees to be credited for years of service for purposes of computing annual leave accrual rates when moving to state employment.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT & TRIBAL AFFAIRS

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 8 members: Representatives Hunt, Chair; Appleton, Vice Chair; Armstrong, Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Flannigan, Hurst, Miloscia and Newhouse.

Staff: Marsha Reilly (786-7135)

Background:

State employees who have completed six months of continuous employment are entitled to a minimum of one working day of vacation leave for each month of employment or a fractional amount based on the percent of full-time employment, as applicable. Employees are credited with one additional vacation day for satisfactorily completing the first two, three and five continuous years of employment.

Certificated and classified employees of school districts accrue 12 days of annual leave each year.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

Former certified or classified employees of a school district who move to state employment shall be credited with years of service for purposes of determining vacation leave accrual rates. Each contract year or equivalent of full-time employment shall be credited as one year of qualifying service. Qualifying employment with a school district shall be applied to leave accrual rates effective July 1, 2009.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

Clarifies that the new accrual rate of vacation leave will be applied beginning July 1, 2009.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction urges support of the bill.  School district experience is highly desirable in terms of recruiting for state employment.  Allowing school district employees to be credited with service in terms of leave accrual rates will provide a benefit to the state in recruitment.  A school district employee earning 22 days of leave per year that moves to state employment receives 12 days per year.  If the state recognized service with the school district, the employee would earn 17 days per year.  Higher education employees are recognized as state employees, yet school district employees are not. 

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Hunt, prime sponsor; and Gary Myers.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.