Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Labor & Workforce Development Committee |
SB 6445
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Amending the definition of uniformed personnel for the purposes of public employees' collective bargaining.
Sponsors: Senators Roach and Kline.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/26/14
Staff: Trudes Tango (786-7384).
Background:
The Public Employees' Collective Bargaining Act (PECBA) provides for collective bargaining of wages, hours, and working conditions by counties, cities, and other political subdivisions and their employees. For certain uniformed personnel, the PECBA recognizes the public policy against strikes as a means of settling labor disputes. To resolve impasses involving uniformed personnel, the PECBA requires binding interest arbitration.
The "uniformed personnel" under PECBA with rights to binding interest arbitration are:
law enforcement officers employed by a city or town with a population of 2,500 or more and law enforcement officers employed by a county with a population of 10,000 or more;
correctional employees of a county jail in a county with a population of 70,000 or more and who are trained for and charged with the responsibility of controlling and maintaining custody of inmates;
peace officers employed by a port district in a county with a population of 1 million or more;
certain security forces of nuclear power plants;
firefighters;
employees with certain firefighting duties employed by a port district in a county with a population of 1 million or more;
employees of fire departments who dispatch exclusively either fire or emergency medical services, or both; and
certain paramedics and emergency medical technicians.
Summary of Bill:
The definition of "uniformed personnel" under the PECBA includes court protection employees or court marshals of any county with a population of 1 million or more and who are:
trained for and commissioned by the county sheriff; and
charged with the responsibility of enforcing laws, protecting and maintaining security in all county-owned or contracted property and performing any other duties assigned by the sheriff of the county or mandated by order.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.