WSR 05-09-104

PROPOSED RULES

DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL


[ Filed April 20, 2005, 10:41 a.m. ]

     Original Notice.

     Exempt from preproposal statement of inquiry under RCW 34.05.310(4).

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 357-31-165 At what rate do employees accrue vacation leave?

     Hearing Location(s): Department of Personnel, Joan B. Darin Conference Room, 521 Capitol Way South, Olympia, WA, on May 24, 2005, at 10:00 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: May 24, 2005.

     Submit Written Comments to: Sharon Whitehead, Department of Personnel, P.O. Box 47500, FOR DOP TRACKING PURPOSES PLEASE NOTE ON SUBMITTED COMMENTS "FORMAL COMMENT," fax (360) 586-4694, by May 18, 2005.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Department of Personnel by May 18, 2005, TTY (360) 753-4107 or (360) 586-8260.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: This proposal adds language that addresses lump-sum accrual of vacation leave for Washington management service employees.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 41.06 RCW.

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 41.06.150.

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Agency Comments or Recommendations, if any, as to Statutory Language, Implementation, Enforcement, and Fiscal Matters: Due to the passage of SHB 1268 the director of the Department of Personnel has rule-making authority regarding vacation leave for state employees. This proposal implements this provision of the Personnel System Reform Act.

     Name of Proponent: Department of Personnel, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Sharon Whitehead, 521 Capitol Way South, Olympia, WA, (360) 664-6348; Implementation and Enforcement: Department of Personnel.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. Not required.

     A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328.

April 19, 2005

Eva N. Santos

Director


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 05-08-137, filed 4/6/05, effective 7/1/05)

WAC 357-31-165   At what rate do employees accrue vacation leave?   (1) Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the following rates:

     (a) During the first year of continuous state employment - 12 days (8 hours per month);

     (b) During the second year of continuous state employment - 13 days (8 hours, 40 minutes per month);

     (c) During the third and fourth years of continuous state employment - 14 days (9 hours, 20 minutes per month);

     (d) During the fifth, sixth, and seventh years of total state employment - 15 days (10 hours per month);

     (e) During the eighth, ninth, and tenth years of total state employment - 16 days (10 hours, 40 minutes per month);

     (f) During the eleventh year of total state employment - 17 days (11 hours, 20 minutes per month).

     (g) During the twelfth year of total state employment - 18 days (12 hours per month).

     (h) During the thirteenth year of total state employment - 19 days (12 hours, 40 minutes per month).

     (i) During the fourteenth year of total state employment - 20 days (13 hours, 20 minutes per month).

     (j) During the fifteenth year of total state employment - 21 days (14 hours per month).

     (k) During the sixteenth and succeeding years of total state employment - 22 days (14 hours, 40 minutes per month).

     (2) Higher education employers may establish accrual rates that exceed the rates listed in subsection (1) of this section.

     (3) As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or incumbent for a WMS position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established in subsection (1) of this section and must not exceed the maximum listed in subsection (1)(k) of this section.

     (((3))) (4) The following applies for purposes of computing the rate of vacation leave accrual:

     (a) Employment in the legislative and/or the judicial branch except for time spent as an elected official or in a judicial appointment is credited.

     (b) Employment exempt by the provisions of WAC 357-04-040, 357-04-045, 357-04-050, 357-04-055 is not credited.

     (c) Each contract year, or equivalent, of full-time faculty and/or administrative exempt employment with a higher education employer is credited as one (1) year of qualifying service.

     (d) Exempt employment with a general government employer is credited, other than that specified in WAC 357-04-055 which is excluded.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 41.06 RCW. 05-08-137, § 357-31-165, filed 4/6/05, effective 7/1/05.]

     Reviser's note: RCW 34.05.395 requires the use of underlining and deletion marks to indicate amendments to existing rules. The rule published above varies from its predecessor in certain respects not indicated by the use of these markings.

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