Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Labor & Workforce Development Committee |
HB 1665
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. |
Brief Description: Establishing procedures for requesting the funds necessary to implement the compensation and fringe benefit provisions of bargaining agreements with the University of Washington under chapter 41.80 RCW.
Sponsors: Representatives Fitzgibbon, Sells, Carlyle, Seaquist and Roberts.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/8/11
Staff: Jill Reinmuth (786-7134).
Background:
The Personnel System Reform Act (PSRA) provides for collective bargaining between institutions of higher education and representatives of classified employees. The PSRA also outlines a process for the Governor to submit, and the Legislature to consider, requests for funds to implement the compensation and fringe benefit provisions of agreements.
The Governor must submit a request to the Legislature, but not unless two conditions are met. First, the request must be submitted to the Director of the Office of Financial Management (Director) by October 1 prior to the legislative session at which the request is to be considered. Second, the request must be certified by the Director as being financially feasible for the state.
The Legislature must approve or reject the request as a whole. The Legislature must not consider the request unless it is transmitted to the Legislature as part of the Governor's budget. If the Legislature rejects or fails to act on the submission, either party may reopen all or part of the agreement or the exclusive bargaining representative may seek to implement mediation and fact-finding procedures.
Summary of Bill:
Several changes are made that apply only in the case of agreements between the University of Washington and representatives of classified employees. The changes are to the process for requests for funds to implement the compensation and fringe benefit provisions of agreements.
First, a threshold amount is set. The Governor must submit a request to the Legislature only if appropriations of $10,000 or more are necessary.
Next, the deadline for submitting the request to the Director is deferred. The request must be submitted by November 1 prior to the legislative session at which the request is to be considered.
Finally, if the Director does not certify a request as being feasible financially, the parties must enter into collective bargaining solely for the purpose of reaching a mutually agreed upon modification to address the absence of requested funds.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on February 7, 2011.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.