SENATE BILL REPORT

                  2SSB 5171

               As Passed Senate, March 11, 1999

Title:  An act relating to Washington state patrol employment agreements.

Brief Description:  Regulating Washington state patrol employment agreements.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Goings, Prentice and Rasmussen).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Labor & Workforce Development:  1/21/99, 1/26/99 [DPS].

Transportation:  2/25/99, 3/3/99 [DP2S].

Passed Senate, 3/11/99, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No.  5171  be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Fairley, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Kline, Wojahn.

Staff:  Jack Brummel (786-7428)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5171 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Goings, Vice Chair; Benton, Costa, Eide, Finkbeiner, Heavey, Horn, Jacobsen, Johnson, Morton, Oke, Patterson, Prentice, Sellar, Sheahan, T. Sheldon, Shin and Swecker.

Staff:  Jennifer Ziegler (786-7316)

Background:  The Public Employment Relations Commission has jurisdiction over collective bargaining issues involving the Washington State Patrol.  The State Patrol may not engage in collective bargaining over wages and wage-related matters.

Summary of Bill:  The Washington State Patrol may enter into collective bargaining, mediation, and arbitration over wage related-matters, but not over wages, retirement benefits, health insurance benefits, or employee insurance benefits.  Agreements must be conditioned upon approval by the Legislature of necessary funds.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For (Labor & Workforce Development):  Currently troopers can=t bargain for wages on wage related-items.  The bill would allow bargaining on wage-related items only.

Testimony Against (Labor & Workforce Development):  None.

Testified (Labor & Workforce Development):  PRO:  Bill Hanson, WA State Troopers Assn.; Bob Lenz, Lieutenants and Captains Assn.; Capt. Eric Robertson, WA State Patrol.

Testimony For (Transportation):  State troopers simply want to have the same bargaining rights as other state agencies.  There is no additional cost because any agreement with a financial impact would require legislative approval.

Testimony Against (Transportation):  None.

Testified (Transportation):  PRO:  Senator Goings, prime sponsor; Bill Hanson, WSP Troopers Assn.; Scott Nelson, Troopers Assn., NW Washington; Jon Martin, Troopers Assn., N. Central Washington; Stu Halsan WSP Lieutenants Assn.; Capt. Eric Robertson, WSP.