SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5227

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Transportation, February 7, 2001

Title:  An act relating to notice requirements.

Brief Description:  Modifying notice requirements.

Sponsors:  Senators Haugen, Oke and Gardner; by request of Marine Employees' Commission.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  1/31/01, 2/7/01 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Benton, Eide, Finkbeiner, Horn, Jacobsen, Johnson, Kastama, McAuliffe, Oke, Patterson, Prentice, Shin and Swecker.

Staff:  Dean Carlson (786‑7305)

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:

$Adjudicate all complaints, grievances, and disputes between labor and management arising from ferry operations.

$Investigate charges of unfair labor practices.

$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.

Currently, any notice MEC serves must be mailed by restricted certified mail.  This includes hearing notices, decisions, dismissals, and settlement conferences.  This requirement also applies to the different parties the MEC works with.

The issue has arisen that 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.

Testimony For:  This bill saves the state and our customers money, and increases the efficiency of communications

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Kathy Marshall, Marine Employees' Commission (pro).