SENATE BILL REPORT
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. |
As Passed Senate, February 18, 2014
Title: An act relating to the definition of uniformed personnel for the purposes of public employees' collective bargaining.
Brief Description: Amending the definition of uniformed personnel for the purposes of public employees' collective bargaining.
Sponsors: Senators Roach and Kline.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Commerce & Labor: 2/07/14 [DP, DNP].
Passed Senate: 2/18/14, 46-1.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR |
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Holmquist Newbry, Chair; Conway, Ranking Member; Hasegawa and Kohl-Welles.
Minority Report: Do not pass.
Signed by Senators Braun, Vice Chair; Hewitt and King.
Staff: Jessica Stevenson (786-7465)
Background: Public employees have the right to join labor organizations and to be represented by a labor organization. The public employee collective bargaining statute includes specific provisions relating to strikes, negotiations, and interest arbitration for uniformed personnel.
For public employee collective bargaining, the definition of uniformed personnel includes the following:
law enforcement officers employed by a city or town with at least 2500 people or by a county with at least 10,000 people;
correctional employees employed by a county with at least 70,000 people and who are responsible for controlling and maintaining custody of inmates;
general authority Washington peace officers employed by a port district in a county with at least 1 million people;
security forces;
firefighters;
port district employees who perform firefighter duties in a county with at least 1 million people;
fire departments employees of public employers who dispatch fire or emergency services; or
employees in the classes of advanced life support technicians of public employers.
Summary of Bill: The definition of uniformed personnel includes court protection employees or court marshals of counties with at least 1 million people who are:
trained for and commissioned by the county sheriff;
responsible for enforcing laws and maintaining security for property owned or contracted for by the county; and
performing other duties assigned by the sheriff or required by a judicial officer.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: The bill is a technical correction to a fairly unique circumstance in King County, so the bill was drafted to affect only King County. The bill provides a balanced playing field that the state elected to do 30 years ago by providing protections for employers and employees against labor disputes. The individuals involved in this bill protect all King County courts and council chambers. It is a critical component for law enforcement. The bill should be adopted since there is no opposition, no fiscal impact, and the court protection employees and court marshals should be given the same status as other law enforcement officers in King County.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Jared Karstetter, Legal Advisor King County Court Protection Guild; Lucy Luddington, citizen.