SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 6075

                      AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 18, 1992

Brief Description:  Limiting state government employment to the same rate as the growth of population.

SPONSORS: Senators Thorsness, Rasmussen, McCaslin, Owen, Metcalf, Nelson, Oke, Stratton, Cantu, L. Smith, Amondson, Barr, Anderson, Craswell and Erwin

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

      Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chairman; Madsen, and Matson.

Staff:  Barbara Howard (786‑7410)

Hearing Dates: January 27, 1992; February 3, 1992

BACKGROUND:

Concern has been expressed that growth in state government employment has increased taxpayer burdens and imposed an excessive regulatory environment.

SUMMARY:

Beginning on July 1, 1992, the annual growth rate of state employees in any fiscal year shall not exceed the state's population growth rate, based on federal census data.  The limitations for the executive branch shall be calculated and enforced by the Governor (with the assistance of the Office of Financial Management, the Department of Personnel and the Higher Education Personnel Board); for the legislative branch, jointly by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate; and for the judicial branch, by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

No agency may employ or retain any person if such action results in exceeding the limits.  "Number of employees" is defined to include persons employed full time, the full-time equivalent of part-time employees and the full-time equivalent of persons retained through personal service contracts.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested January 22, 1992

TESTIMONY FOR: None

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

No artificial limit should be set on the numbers of employees.  The budget process already allows for adjustment of FTEs by program as needed.

TESTIFIED:  Eugene St. John, WPEA (con)