SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 2763

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 Senate Committee On:

Labor & Commerce, February 27, 2020

Ways & Means, March 2, 2020

Title: An act relating to interest arbitration for department of corrections employees.

Brief Description: Concerning interest arbitration for department of corrections employees.

Sponsors: Representatives Chapman, Dent, Hudgins and Tharinger.

Brief History: Passed House: 2/16/20, 79-17.

Committee Activity: Labor & Commerce: 2/27/20 [DP-WM, w/oRec].

Ways & Means: 2/29/20, 3/02/20 [DP, w/oRec].

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Grants interest arbitration to nonsupervisory marine department employees of the Department of Corrections.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE

Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Conway, Vice Chair; King, Ranking Member; Saldaña, Schoesler, Stanford, Walsh and Wellman.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.

Signed by Senator Braun.

Staff: Jarrett Sacks (786-7448)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Rolfes, Chair; Frockt, Vice Chair, Operating, Capital Lead; Mullet, Capital Budget Cabinet; Honeyford, Assistant Ranking Member, Capital; Billig, Carlyle, Conway, Darneille, Hasegawa, Hunt, Keiser, Liias, Muzzall, Pedersen, Schoesler, Van De Wege, Wagoner and Warnick.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.

Signed by Senators Braun, Ranking Member; Brown, Assistant Ranking Member, Operating; Becker and Wilson, L..

Staff: Amanda Cecil (786-7460)

Background: Department of Corrections. The Department of Corrections (DOC) is responsible for managing state-operated adult prison facilities and supervising adult offenders residing in communities. DOC also maintains marine operations for the McNeil Island civil commitment center.

Personnel System Reform Act. The Personnel System Reform Act (PSRA) provides for collective bargaining of wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment with classified employees of state agencies and higher education institutions. Last year, the Legislature authorized interest arbitration under the PSRA for both uniformed personnel and certain DOC employees.

Current law excludes the following DOC employees from interest arbitration:

Summary of Bill: Nonsupervisory DOC marine department employees are granted interest arbitration under the PSRA.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Labor & Commerce): PRO: This bill applies to a bargaining unit of seven captains. Their position requires expertise and they are licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard. Deckhands have had interest arbitration for their last two contract, which has narrowed the wage gap. Deckhands will inevitably make more than captains, which will lead to a recruitment and retention problem. There is an agreement with OFM that interest arbitration will be over wages only.

Persons Testifying (Labor & Commerce): PRO: Gordon Baxter, International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Labor & Commerce): No one.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Ways & Means): PRO: The ferry system is a 24/7 operation and the deck hands have this right but the captains do not. Without this there will be recruitment and retention issues.

Persons Testifying (Ways & Means): PRO: Gordon Baxter, International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Ways & Means): No one.