SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 6274

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE, FEBRUARY 3, 1994

Brief Description:  Changing salary provisions for educational employees.

SPONSORS: Senators Prentice, Moore, Winsley, Pelz, Vognild, Skratek and Rinehart

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Moore, Chairman; Prentice, Vice Chairman; Fraser, Pelz, Sutherland, Vognild and Wojahn.

Minority Report:  Do not pass. 

     Signed by Senators Deccio and Sellar.

Staff:  Jonathan Seib (786‑7427)

Hearing Dates:  February 2, 1994; February 3, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Under current law, the average salary paid to a school district's certificated employees may not exceed the amount provided for in the salary allocation schedule established by the Legislature. 

Certificated employees of school districts bargain their wages and working conditions under the Educational Employment Relations Act.  The act explicitly provides, however, that it does not grant the right to reach agreements providing salary increases in excess of those authorized in the statewide salary allocation schedule.

SUMMARY:

The limitation on certificated employee's salaries is removed.  If the average salary paid to a school district's certificated employees exceeds the amount provided for in the salary allocation schedule, the state shall not incur any present or future funding obligations for that portion of the salary.

The section in the Educational Employment Relations Act preventing bargaining of salary increases in excess of those authorized in the statewide salary allocation schedule is repealed.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

Passage of the bill would give K-12 certificated instructional staff the same local bargaining rights now enjoyed by classified and administrative staff.  The bill would cost the state nothing and it is unlikely that it would lead to lawsuits.  Bargained-for contracts would contain provisions allowing local districts to adjust to reduced revenues due to a levy failure.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

The bill would be detrimental to the "restructuring partnership" called for as part of the education reform process.  Collective bargaining over wages would make it very difficult for the district and teachers to otherwise work cooperatively.  Inequities will occur between districts.  Just like the state, local school districts have little money to spare.

TESTIFIED:  Susan Trimingham, Dwayne Slate, WA State School Directors' Assn. (con); Bob Maier, WEA (pro); Bruce Colwell, Seattle Education Assn. (pro); Marcia Costello, WASA (con); John Kvamme, Tacoma Public Schools (con)