FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6647

C 170 L 10

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Protecting jobs of members of the civil air patrol while acting in an emergency service operation.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection (originally sponsored by Senators Honeyford, Swecker and Morton).

Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection

House Committee on Commerce & Labor

Background: The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) serves as the civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force. The CAP is a volunteer organization which has been chartered by the United States Congress with three missions: aerospace education; cadet programs; and emergency services, which includes search and rescue and disaster relief. The CAP has approximately 57,000 members and performs 90 percent of inland search and rescue missions.

Volunteer firefighters or reserve officers may not be discharged from employment or disciplined because of leave taken related to an emergency call or fire alarm. A volunteer firefighter or reserve officer who has been wrongfully discharged or disciplined may file a complaint with the Department of Labor and Industries (Department). If the Department determines that the employee has been wrongfully discharged or disciplined, the employer must reinstate the employee or withdraw the disciplinary action.

Summary: CAP members may not be discharged from employment or disciplined because of leave taken related to an emergency service operation. A CAP member who believes that he or she has been wrongfully discharged or disciplined may bring an action alleging the violation with the Director of the Department. The complaint must be filed within 90 days of the violation, the Director must investigate the complaint, and send his or her determination within 90 days of receipt of the complaint. If it is determined that the CAP member has been wrongfully discharged or disciplined, the CAP member must be reinstated and any disciplinary action withdrawn.

An emergency service operation means the following operations of the CAP: search and rescue missions designated by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center; disaster relief or humanitarian relief when requested by the Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Air Force support designated by the First Air Force; and counterdrug missions.

Votes on Final Passage: