HOUSE BILL REPORT
SHB 2580


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 Passed Legislature

Title: An act relating to paydates for employees participating in state active military duty.

Brief Description: Concerning paydates for employees participating in state active military duty.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Hurst, McCoy, VanDeWege, Morrell, Campbell and Roach).

Brief History:

State Government & Tribal Affairs: 1/25/08, 1/30/08 [DP];

Appropriations: 2/11/08 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/15/08, 94-0.
Passed Senate: 3/7/08, 49-0.
Passed Legislature.

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
  • Changes the pay date for state active duty National or State Guard members.


HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT & TRIBAL AFFAIRS

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 8 members: Representatives Hunt, Chair; Appleton, Vice Chair; Chandler, Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Kretz, Liias, Miloscia and Ormsby.

Staff: Tracey Taylor (786-7196).


HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 32 members: Representatives Sommers, Chair; Dunshee, Vice Chair; Alexander, Ranking Minority Member; Bailey, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Haler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Chandler, Cody, Conway, Darneille, Ericks, Fromhold, Grant, Green, Haigh, Hinkle, Hunt, Kagi, Kenney, Kessler, Kretz, Linville, McIntire, Morrell, Pettigrew, Priest, Ross, Schmick, Schual-Berke, Seaquist, Sullivan and Walsh.

Staff: Wendy Polzin (786-7137).

Background:

State officers and employees have two pay periods per month. The first pay period is from day one through 15 of the month. The second pay period is from day 16 through the last calendar day of the month. The Director of the Office of Financial Management must establish the official pay dates at least six months prior to the beginning of each calendar year. Pay dates cannot be more than 10 days after a pay period unless the designated pay date falls on a Sunday, in which case it may not be later than the following Monday.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

The standard pay dates do not apply to state active duty National or State Guard members. When a National or State Guard member is called to participate in state active duty, the pay date must be no more than seven days following the completion of duty or the end of the pay period, whichever is first. If the seventh day falls on a Sunday, the pay date must be no later than the following Monday.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: (State Government & Tribal Affairs)

(In support) When National or State Guard members participate in state active duty training or disaster response missions, they become state employees and fall under the state's pay rules and processes. Often, state active duty is imposed with little or no notice or an opportunity to transition from a civilian payroll cycle to the state's payroll cycle. Depending on the timing and the duration, a state active duty guard member may have to wait several weeks before receiving a paycheck from the state. This gap in pay imposes a financial hardship on the National or State Guard members and their families.

(Opposed) None.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: (Appropriations)

(In support) This change is very important to the state's National and State Guard members. When paying guard members for state active duty, the Military Department takes payment out of the HRMS system and processes it as a vendor payment. During the December 2007 storms and floods, 450 members were activated. This bill would allow them to be paid within seven days of completion of their duty, instead of having to wait a pay cycle. The proposed amendment removes any concerns of the Department of Personnel that changes would need to be made in the HRMS.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: (State Government & Tribal Affairs) Representative Hurst, prime sponsor; and Brigadier General Gordon Toney, Washington Military Department.

Persons Testifying: Laura Vander Meer, Washington Military Department and Andy Colvin, Department of Personnel.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: (State Government & Tribal Affairs) None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: (Appropriations) None.