H-1837.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2186

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Representatives Woods, Mitchell, Hankins, Ericksen and Esser

Read first time 02/22/2001.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Expanding sales methods for ferry tickets.

    AN ACT Relating to sale of ferry tickets and medium; amending RCW 47.64.120; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature intends to enable the Washington state ferry system to authorize other entities to sell tickets and medium for passage on Washington state ferries.  This will increase convenience for customers and help reduce congestion at ferry ticket booths.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 47.64.120 and 1997 c 436 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) Ferry system management and ferry system employee organizations, through their collective bargaining representatives, shall meet at reasonable times, to negotiate in good faith with respect to wages, hours, working conditions, insurance, and health care benefits as limited by RCW 47.64.270, and other matters mutually agreed upon.

(a) Employer funded retirement benefits shall be provided under the public employees' retirement system under chapter 41.40 RCW and shall not be included in the scope of collective bargaining.

(b) Ferry system ticket and medium sales are not the exclusive work jurisdiction of a ferry system employee organization, and the authorization of other entities to sell ferry medium may not be included in the scope of collective bargaining.

    (2) Upon ratification of bargaining agreements, ferry employees are entitled to an amount equivalent to the interest earned on retroactive compensation increases.  For purposes of this section, the interest earned on retroactive compensation increases is the same monthly rate of interest that was earned on the amount of the compensation increases while held in the state treasury.  The interest will be computed for each employee until the date the retroactive compensation is paid, and must be allocated in accordance with appropriation authority.  The interest earned on retroactive compensation is not considered part of the ongoing compensation obligation of the state and is not compensation earnable for the purposes of chapter 41.40 RCW.  Negotiations shall also include grievance procedures for resolving any questions arising under the agreement, which shall be embodied in a written agreement and signed by the parties.

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