SHB 1516 -
By Representative Seaquist
WITHDRAWN 03/03/2011
On page 2, after line 8, insert the following:
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 This act may be known and cited as the
ferry reform and accountability act."
Renumber the remaining sections consecutively, correct any internal references accordingly, and correct the title.
On page 4, line 1, after "(4)" strike "(a)"
On page 4, beginning on line 5, after "criteria," strike all
material through "supervise." on line 36 and insert "the Washington
state ferry reform executive board is created. Unless extended by the
legislature, the board must complete its work by and dissolve June 30,
2015. The board must consist of three members appointed by the
governor with the concurrence of the speaker of the house of
representatives and the majority leader of the senate in consultation
with the minority leaders of the house of representatives and senate.
In order to bring a balance of executive expertise, the appointees must
be an executive with maritime operations experience, an executive with
experience in cultivating positive workplace environments, and an
executive with contracting and construction experience, each chosen for
their proven capacity for innovation and organizational excellence.
(5) Staffing of the Washington state ferry reform executive board
must be furnished by the Washington state ferries and the department of
transportation staffs as part of their regular support to the ferry
system's executives. The board may hire one full-time executive staff
support per appointed board member, of which one must be designated
transition chief of staff for the ferry system. Support staff must
receive compensation similar to a level two Washington management
services employee.
(6) Appointed board members must be compensated on a per diem basis
at the same rate of pay as the assistant secretary of Washington state
ferries.
(7) The Washington state ferry reform executive board shall direct
and oversee the transition of Washington ferry service to the cost-effective performance of the mission prescribed in section 4 of this
act. To that end, the board shall work toward the following key
operational reform goals:
(a) Maximize administrative efficiency so that the fleet operates
with minimum nonafloat staff and administrative costs;
(b) Reform the personnel climate and labor-management relationships
to assure quality service by a healthy career force;
(c) Improve fleet maintenance effectiveness to assure reliable,
cost-effective service from the aging ferry fleet; and
(d) Create a new ferry system management architecture to be fully
functional by June 1, 2015, which incorporates a fully transparent
budget and other management information and participation by ferry
communities and ferry crews in cost control, system efficiency, fare
setting (per transportation commission processes), and service schedule
development.
(8) The Washington state ferry reform executive board shall propose
to the legislature by December 1, 2014:
(a) A revised, long-range plan for cost-effective ferry service,
fleet and terminal maintenance, fleet and terminal modernization, and
ferry system staffing;
(b) A plan for ferry system organization and governance reform; and
(c) A revised strategy for the acquisition of new ferries
consistent with the mission prescribed in section 4 of this act.
(9) The Washington state ferry reform executive board shall
periodically consult with ferry communities and ferry system employees
in public meetings.
(10) The Washington state ferry reform executive board shall
provide quarterly updates on its activities to the Washington state
transportation commission, the legislative standing committees on
transportation, and the general public.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4 A new section is added to chapter 47.60 RCW
to read as follows:
The sole mission of the Washington state ferry system, operating as
a division of the department of transportation and in consonance with
the statutory authorities of the Washington state transportation
commission, is to operate, staff, and maintain a ferry fleet and
terminal system to deliver on marine highway routes designated by the
legislature highly reliable, maximally cost-effective ferry service
integrated with all other elements of the regional transportation
network."
Correct any internal references accordingly and correct the title.
EFFECT: (1) The amendment provides a mission statement for
Washington State Ferries (WSF) and removes the requirement for WSF to
privatize management functions if WSF does not meet or exceed
performance levels of performance criteria. The amendment adds the
requirement that, if WSF does not meet the performance levels of the
performance criteria, the three-member Washington State Ferry Reform
Executive Board is created. Membership qualifications, appointment
processes, staffing, and pay rates of members and staff of the
Executive Board are outlined in the amendment as are goals of the
Board, including:
(a) Oversee and direct the transition of WSF to a cost-effective
performance of the mission;
(b) Create a new ferry system management architecture to be fully
functional by June 1, 2015; and
(c) Report to the Legislature by December 1, 2014, a revised long-
range plan and an organizational and governance reform plan.
(2) The amendment removes the requirement that a collective
bargaining agreement may not allow managers to belong to the same
bargaining unit representing employees whom the manager supervises.