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 Reported by Senate Committee On:

Commerce & Labor, February 7, 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].

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:

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:

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.