FINAL BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 1730

                         C 273 L 95

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:   Revising provisions regarding interest arbitration for law enforcement officers employed by cities, towns, or counties.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representative Benton).

House Committee on Commerce & Labor

Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Trade

Background:  Employees of cities, counties, and other political subdivisions of the state bargain their wages and working conditions under the Public Employees' Collective Bargaining Act (PECBA).  For uniformed personnel, the act recognizes the public policy against strikes as a means of settling labor disputes.  To resolve disputes involving these uniformed personnel, the PECBA requires binding arbitration if negotiations for a contract reach impasse and cannot be resolved through mediation.

Until July 1, 1995, the definition of "uniformed personnel" includes, among other groups of employees, law enforcement officers in the larger cities and counties (cities with a population of 15,000 or more, and counties with a population of 70,000 or more).  Beginning July 1, 1995, the definition will change for law enforcement officers and will include officers in cities with a population of 7,500 or more and in counties with a population of 35,000 or more.  Law enforcement officers include county sheriffs and deputy sheriffs, city police officers, or town marshals.

Summary:  For purposes of defining "uniformed personnel" in the Public Employee Collective Bargaining Act, the population threshold for including law enforcement officers is modified beginning July 1, 1997. "Uniformed personnel" will include officers in cities with a population of 2,500 or more and in counties with a population of 10,000 or more.

Technical changes are made to merge multiple amendments to the statute enacted in previous legislative sessions.  Amendments to a section repealed on July 1, 1995, are also repealed, with the substance of the amendments reincorporated in a new section.

The Senate Ways & Means Committee and the House Appropriations Committee must compile, by December 15, 1996, a joint report to the Legislature that analyzes and reviews all arbitration awards made since 1973 involving law enforcement officers.  The report must include, for each arbitration, the procedural history, identity of the parties, evidence and arguments presented, names of arbitration panel members, and findings and final determination of the issues.

Votes on Final Passage:

House     88 10

Senate    36 12 (Senate amended)

House     88 8 (House concurred)

Effective:  July 1, 1995