HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2085

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Appropriations

Title:  An act relating to the elimination of the attendance incentive program for state employees.

Brief Description:  Eliminating the attendance incentive program for state employees.

Sponsors:  Representative Silver.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Appropriations:  3/21/95, 3/22/95 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 19 members:  Representatives Silver, Chairman; Clements, Vice Chairman; Huff, Vice Chairman; Pelesky, Vice Chairman; Beeksma; Brumsickle; Carlson; Cooke; Crouse; Foreman; Hargrove; Hickel; Lambert; Lisk; McMorris; Reams; Sehlin; Sheahan and Talcott.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives Sommers, Ranking Minority Member; Valle, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Chappell; Dellwo; G. Fisher; Grant; Jacobsen; Poulsen; Rust; Thibaudeau and Wolfe.

Staff:  Jennifer Priddy (786-7118).

Background:   The state employee attendance incentive program was enacted in 1979 to allow state employees and non-instructional higher education employees to receive remuneration for accumulated unused sick leave.  At the conclusion of each calendar year in which the employee has accumulated in excess of 60 days of sick leave, the employee may elect to receive one day of compensation for each four days of excess sick leave.  At the time of separation from state employment due to death or retirement, all sick leave is compensated at the same 4-to-1 ratio.  Preliminary data for the 1993-95 biennium indicates that sick leave cash-out expenditures will total $5.9 million

Summary of Bill:  House Bill 2085 eliminates the state and higher education employee attendance incentive program.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on March 21, 1995.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  This bill takes money out of the pockets of employees.  The program is a cost efficient alternative to full use of sick leave and enhances the work environment.

Testified:  Eugene St. John, Washington Public Employees Association.