SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5692

                    As of February 17, 1999

Title:  An act relating to the employment of legislative and other public employees.

Brief Description:  Changing the employment status of legislative employees and other public employees.

Sponsors:  Senator Fairley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Labor & Workforce Development:  2/18/99.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Staff:  Jack Brummel (786-7428)

Background:  Legislative employees are currently exempt from coverage under the state's civil service law as well as the state's minimum wage and overtime law.  Membership in the state's retirement system for legislative employees is at the discretion of the legislative bodies.  Legislative employees are not covered under the state's employee suggestion and incentive pay program, the whistleblower law, or industrial welfare provisions.

Summary of Bill:  Legislative employees are covered under state civil service, wage and hour, retirement, employee suggestion and incentive pay, whistleblower, and industrial welfare provisions.

The Director of the Department of Personnel is to develop separate rules for the Legislature covering confidential secretaries and administrative assistants.  The rules are to address recruitment, appointments, examinations, discipline, salaries and job classifications, and overtime.  The rules are to be administered and managed by the Legislature.

Legislative agencies must each appoint a personnel officer to direct, supervise, and manage administrative and technical personnel activities.  One individual may serve as personnel officer for more than one legislative agency.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 16, 1999.

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