SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5506

                     As of March 24, 1999

Title:  An act relating to restrictions on public passenger transportation system agreements for services by private entities.

Brief Description:  Requiring that employee benefits for contract transportation employees be not less than those provided to public transportation employees.

Sponsors:  Senators Haugen, Gardner, Kline, Costa, Prentice, Fairley, Patterson and Eide.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  3/25/99.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Staff: Paul Neal (786-7315)

Background:  Public transit agencies are required to comply with statutes governing public employees collective bargaining, including bargaining for compensation.  Salary, wages and benefits for public transit workers are set pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement.  The compensation set in the collective bargaining agreement does not, however, apply to the compensation paid to employees of a third party service provider contracting with an agency to provide transit services.

Summary of Bill:  Public transit agencies are prohibited from contracting out for services typically or historically provided by transit employees unless the third party service provider provides equal or greater wages and benefits to its employees.

Public transit agencies also must notify affected labor organizations prior to contracting out for services.  As part of that notification, the agency must provide the labor organization with all relevant information prior to entering into an agreement.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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