SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5171

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

        Labor & Workforce Development, January 26, 1999

Transportation, March 3, 1999

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

Brief Description:  Regulating Washington state patrol employment agreements.

Sponsors:  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].

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 Second Substitute 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.

Second Substitute Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  Provisions of the collective bargaining agreement that are entered into before the Legislature approved the necessary funds must be conditioned upon the Legislature=s subsequent approval of the funds.  Technical changes are made.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill permitted the agreements to be conditioned upon approval by the Legislature of necessary funds.  The substitute bill requires such legislative approval.

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.