SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SHB 1959

                              AS OF APRIL 2, 1991

Brief Description:  Revising provisions for collective bargaining for local government correctional and radio dispatch employees.

SPONSORS:House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Hargrove, Winsley and Heavey).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Staff:  Jonathan Seib (786‑7427)

Hearing Dates:April 3, 1991

BACKGROUND:

Employees of cities and counties bargain their wages and working conditions under the Public Employees' Collective Bargaining Act.  If a contract dispute cannot be resolved through mediation, the act requires the use of binding interest arbitration for disputes between law enforcement officers and employers in cities with a population of 15,000 or more or in counties of the second class or larger, 70,000 or more in population.  Law enforcement officers include county sheriffs and deputy sheriffs, city police officers, or town marshals.

SUMMARY:

The binding interest arbitration provisions of the Public Employees' Collective Bargaining Act are extended to the correctional employees and police, fire, emergency, and correctional radio dispatch personnel employed by cities with a population of 15,000 or more and by counties of the second class or larger.

Appropriation:  none 

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available