SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6412

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Transportation, February 8, 2000

Title:  An act relating to civil service exemptions in the department of transportation.

Brief Description:  Adjusting civil service exemptions in the department of transportation.

Sponsors:  Senators Haugen and Morton; by request of Department of Transportation.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  1/26/2000, 2/8/2000 [DP, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Goings, Vice Chair; Costa, Eide, Horn, Jacobsen, Morton, Oke, Prentice and Shin.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

  Signed by Senators Benton and Finkbeiner.

Staff:  Gene Baxstrom (786-7303)

Background:  State law provides for the organization of the Department of Transportation into divisions and authorizes the secretary to reorganize divisions to attain efficiencies.  State law also prescribes the titles for exempt personnel within the agency.  As the agency reorganizes management structure, these titles and positions may no longer be appropriate, making certain statutory references obsolete.

Summary of Bill:  The Secretary of Transportation is granted greater authority to designate the positions of exempt personnel within the department by removing specific titles of some exempt positions.  Two deputy secretaries are authorized to conform with current practice.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 20, 2000.

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

Testimony For:  This change updates the current job title for several Department of Transportation exempt positions and will provide flexibility in determining which positions should be exempt.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Adrienne Sanders, Department of Transportation; Sid Morrison, Secretary of Transportation.