WSR 06-24-091

PROPOSED RULES

DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL


[ Filed December 5, 2006, 10:39 a.m. ]

     Original Notice.

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

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 357-31-150 Can an employee be paid for accrued sick leave?

     Hearing Location(s): Department of Personnel, 2828 Capitol Boulevard, Tumwater, WA, on January 11, 2007, at 8:30 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: January 11, 2007.

     Submit Written Comments to: Connie Goff, Department of Personnel, P.O. Box 47500, fax (360) 586-4694, by January 5, 2007. FOR DOP TRACKING PURPOSES PLEASE NOTE ON SUBMITTED COMMENTS "FORMAL COMMENT."

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Department of Personnel by January 5, 2007, TTY (360) 753-4107 or (360) 586-8260.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The proposed change is housekeeping in nature.

     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: It was brought to our attention that the reference to WAC 357-31-330 in subsection (2) of WAC 357-31-150 is incorrect. The reference should be to WAC 357-31-375.

     Name of Proponent: Department of personnel, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Connie Goff, 521 Capitol Way South, Olympia, WA, (360) 664-6250; 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.

December 4, 2006

Eva N. Santos

Director


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 05-08-136, filed 4/6/05, effective 7/1/05)

WAC 357-31-150   Can an employee be paid for accrued sick leave?   In accordance with the attendance incentive program established by RCW 41.04.340, employees are eligible to be paid for accrued sick leave as follows:

     (1) In January of each year, an employee whose sick leave balance at the end of the previous year exceeds four hundred eighty hours may elect to convert the sick leave hours earned in the previous calendar year, minus those hours used during the year, to monetary compensation.

     (a) No sick leave hours may be converted which would reduce the calendar year-end balance below four hundred eighty hours.

     (b) Monetary compensation for converted hours is paid at the rate of twenty-five percent and is based on the employee's current salary.

     (c) All converted hours are deducted from the employee's sick leave balance.

     (d) Hours which are accrued, donated, and returned from the shared leave program in the same calendar year may be included in the converted hours for monetary compensation.

     (2) Employees who separate from state service because of retirement or death must be compensated for their total unused sick leave accumulation at the rate of twenty-five percent or the employer may deposit equivalent funds in a medical expense plan as provided in WAC 357-31-((330))375. Compensation must be based on the employee's salary at the time of separation. For the purpose of this subsection, retirement does not include "vested out-of-service" employees who leave funds on deposit with the department of retirement systems (DRS).

     (3) No contributions are to be made to the department of retirement systems (DRS) for payments under subsection (1) or (2) of this section, nor are such payments reported to DRS as compensation.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 41.06 RCW. 05-08-136, § 357-31-150, filed 4/6/05, effective 7/1/05.]

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