Washington State House of Representatives	BILL ANALYSIS
Transportation Committee

HB 1100

Brief Description:  Modifying notice requirements.

Sponsors:  Representatives Fisher and Woods; by request of Marine Employees' Commission.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Allows the marine employees commission to serve notices by fax with transaction report verification and same-day USPS mailing of copies.

Hearing Date:  2/19/01

Staff:  Paul Neal (786‑7315).

Background: 

The Marine Employees Commission (MEC) was established in 1983 to oversee labor and management relations for the Washington State Ferry (WSF) system.  The purpose of the MEC is to:

$Assist in resolving labor disputes:

     Adjudicate all complaints, grievances, and disputes between labor and management arising from ferry operations.  Investigate charges of unfair labor practices.

$Assist in the collective bargaining process:

     Determine bargaining units.  Conduct fact-finding studies and salary surveys.  Certify fair representation organizations.Determine whether labor agreements exceed statutory limitations and order reductions accordingly.

In the course of discharging these duties, MEC issues several types of official communications. This includes hearing notices, decisions, dismissals, and settlement conferences.  Currently, any notice MEC serves must be mailed by restricted certified mail.  This requirement also applies to the different parties the MEC works with.

Because of the strict delivery demands of restricted certified mail, serving notices by restricted certified mail can cause great delays under some circumstances.

Summary of Bill: 

The requirement for service of notices to be mailed by restricted certified mail is eliminated.  The option for service of notices to be by certified mail or sent by fax with transaction report verification and same-day USPS mailing of copies is created.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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