[atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to collective bargaining for University of Washington employees who are enrolled in academic programs; adding a new section to chapter 41.56 RCW; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 41.56 RCW to read as follows:

(1) This section applies to employees of the University of Washington who are enrolled in an academic program and are in a classification in (a) through (e) of this subsection on any University of Washington campus, including a branch campus. A group of all of the employees in each of (a) through (e) of this subsection constitutes an appropriate bargaining unit:

(a) Predoctoral instructor;

(b) Predoctoral lecturer;

(d) Predoctoral teaching associates I and II; and

(e) Tutors, readers, and graders in all academic and tutoring centers and all employees enrolled in an academic program whose duties and responsibilities are substantially equivalent to these titles.

(2) The exclusive bargaining representative of the classifications in subsection (1) of this section covered by this section may engage in collective bargaining with the University of Washington, however, the scope of bargaining may not include:

(a) Consideration of the merits, necessity, or organization of any program, activity, or service established by the University of Washington, including, but not limited to, any decision to establish, modify, or discontinue any such program, activity, or service;

(b) The amount of any student fees, including tuition, although the waiver and remission of such fees may be the subject of bargaining;

(c) Admission requirements for students, conditions for the award of certificates and degrees to students, class size, academic criteria for selection of teaching assistants, initial appointment, the academic calendar, and the content, conduct, and supervision of courses, curricula, grading requirements, and research programs;

(d) The ability of the University of Washington to terminate the employment of any individual in a classification included under this section based on the university's determination that the employee has not met academic requirements.

(3) This section shall not be construed to restrict, limit, or prohibit the full exercise of the functions of the faculty in any shared governance mechanisms or practices, including the faculty senate, faculty councils, and faculty codes of the University of Washington and the divisions of the university. This section recognizes the historic role the graduate and professional student senate and the associated students of the University of Washington have played in the life of the university. This section shall not be construed to restrict, limit, or prohibit the full exercise of the functions of the graduate and professional student senate and associated students of the University of Washington, or its successor, in subject matter outside the scope of representation as defined in this section. It is a violation of this section to engage in discussions with any entity other than the exclusive representative for those employees covered by this section on matters within the scope of representation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.