WSR 09-14-120

PROPOSED RULES

DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL


[ Filed July 1, 2009, 9:10 a.m. ]

     Original Notice.

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

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 357-46-070 Which employees are eligible to have their name placed on an employer's internal layoff list? and 357-46-080 Which employees are eligible to have their name placed on an employer's statewide layoff list?

     Hearing Location(s): Department of Personnel, 600 South Franklin, Olympia, WA, on August 13, 2009, at 8:30 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: August 13, 2009.

     Submit Written Comments to: Connie Goff, Department of Personnel, P.O. Box 47500, e-mail connieg@dop.wa.gov, fax (360) 586-4694, by August 6, 2009. FOR DOP TRACKING PURPOSES PLEASE NOTE ON SUBMITTED COMMENTS "FORMAL COMMENT."

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact department of personnel by August 6, 2009, TTY (360) 753-4107 or (360) 586-8260.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: We are proposing that we change WAC 357-46-070 and 357-46-080 so that employees will have layoff list rights to any class they have held permanent status in regardless of whether or not the employee has had a break in service.

     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.

     Name of Proponent: Department of personnel, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Kristie Wilson, 521 Capitol Way South, Olympia, WA, (360) 664-6408; 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.

June 30, 2009

Eva N. Santos

Director

OTS-2463.2


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 09-11-063, filed 5/14/09, effective 6/16/09)

WAC 357-46-070   Which employees are eligible to have their name placed on an employer's internal layoff list?   (1) Permanent employees of the employer who satisfy the following criteria must have their name placed on the employer's internal layoff list if the employee exercises this option within the two-year eligibility period:

     (a) Employees who are laid off or have been notified in writing by the employer that they are scheduled to be laid off are eligible to be on the internal layoff list for classes in which they held permanent status ((during the current period of unbroken service)) at the same or lower salary range and lower classes in the same class series. Permanent status is not required for the lower classes in the class series. For purposes of this subsection "employees" includes Washington management service (WMS) employees who are laid off or have been notified by the employer that they are scheduled to be laid off and who have held permanent status in Washington general service ((during the current period of unbroken service)). WMS employees only have layoff list rights to classes which the highest step of the salary range is equal to or below the WMS salary at the time of layoff or notification of layoff.

     (b) Employees who accept a voluntary demotion in lieu of layoff are eligible to be on the internal layoff list for the class from which they demoted and classes at that salary range and lower salary ranges in which the employee held permanent status ((during the current period of unbroken service)) and lower classes in the same class series. Permanent status is not required for the lower classes in the class series. Washington management service (WMS) employees who accept a voluntary demotion in lieu of layoff are eligible to be on the internal layoff list for classes in which they held permanent status ((during the current period of unbroken service)). WMS employees only have layoff list rights to classes which the highest step of the salary range is equal to or below the WMS salary at the time of the demotion.

     (c) Employees who accepted less than comparable positions as defined by the employer's layoff procedure are eligible to be on the internal layoff list for classes in which they held permanent status at the same or lower salary range and lower classes in the same class series. Permanent status is not required for the lower classes in the class series.

     (d) Employees who have not successfully completed a trial service period and are placed in a nonpermanent position following reversion are eligible to be on the internal layoff list for classes in which the employee previously held permanent status ((during the current period of unbroken service)).

     (e) Employees who remain in a position reallocated to a lower salary range are eligible to be on the internal layoff list for the class the employee held permanent status in prior to the reallocation.

     (2) Employees who have been demoted for cause from a class are not eligible to be on the internal layoff list for that class.

     (3) General government employees have layoff list rights to all classifications the employee has held permanent status in regardless of any breaks in state service.

     Higher education employers must address in their layoff procedure whether or not employees will be given layoff rights to classes they held permanent status in prior to any breaks in state service.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 41.06 RCW. 09-11-063, § 357-46-070, filed 5/14/09, effective 6/16/09; 04-18-114, § 357-46-070, filed 9/1/04, effective 7/1/05.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 09-11-063, filed 5/14/09, effective 6/16/09)

WAC 357-46-080   Which employees are eligible to have their name placed on an employer's statewide layoff list?   (1) Permanent employees who satisfy the following criteria must have their name placed on the statewide layoff list for other employers if the employee exercises this option within the two-year eligibility period:

     (a) Employees who are laid off or notified in writing by the employer that they are scheduled to be laid off are eligible to be on the statewide layoff list for classes in which they held permanent status ((during the current period of unbroken service)) at the same or lower salary range and lower classes in the same class series. Permanent status is not required in the lower classes in the class series. For purposes of this subsection "employees" includes Washington management service (WMS) employees who are laid off or have been notified by the employer that they are scheduled to be laid off and who have held permanent status in Washington general service ((during the current period of unbroken service)). WMS employees only have layoff list rights to classes which the highest step of the salary range is equal to or below the WMS salary at the time of layoff or notification of layoff.

     (b) Employees who accept a voluntary demotion in-lieu of layoff are eligible to be on the statewide layoff list for the class from which they demoted and classes at that salary range and lower salary ranges in which the employees held permanent status and lower classes in the same class series. Permanent status is not required for the lower classes in the class series. Washington management service (WMS) employees who accept a voluntary demotion in lieu of layoff are eligible to be on the statewide layoff list for classes in which they held permanent status ((during the current period of unbroken service)). WMS employees only have layoff list rights to classes which the highest step of the salary range is equal to or below the WMS salary at the time of the demotion.

     (c) Employees who accepted less-than-comparable positions at the time of layoff are eligible to be on the statewide layoff list for classes in which they held permanent status at the current or lower salary range and lower classes in the same class series. Permanent status is not required for the lower classes in the class series.

     (2) Employees who have been demoted for cause from a class are not eligible to be on the statewide layoff list for that class.

     (3) General government employees have layoff list rights to all classifications the employee has held permanent status in regardless of any breaks in state service.

     Higher education employers must address in their layoff procedure whether or not employees will be given layoff rights to classes they held permanent status in prior to any breaks in state service.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 41.06 RCW. 09-11-063, § 357-46-080, filed 5/14/09, effective 6/16/09; 04-18-114, § 357-46-080, filed 9/1/04, effective 7/1/05.]

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