BILL REQ. #:  S-3499.1 

Read first time 02/03/14.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education.

     AN ACT Relating to establishing the minimum wage for classified school employees; amending RCW 28A.400.200; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature intends to ensure that school districts provide a fair and appropriate living wage rate for school employees. In addition, the legislature finds that no school district employee who works full time should live in poverty.
     The Washington state Constitution establishes "the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children ... ." Providing quality education for all children in Washington requires well-qualified and dedicated school employees. However, minimum wage rates for school employees are inadequate to attract or retain well-qualified school employees.
     The legislature intends to increase classified salary allocations as necessary to comply with its obligation to provide ample funding for classified wages required by this act. The legislature further intends that all school districts use state and nonstate funds as necessary to ensure that all classified employees receive the minimum wage rate established by this act.

Sec. 2   RCW 28A.400.200 and 2010 c 235 s 401 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Every school district board of directors shall fix, alter, allow, and order paid salaries and compensation for all district employees in conformance with this section.
     (2)(a) Salaries for certificated instructional staff shall not be less than the salary provided in the appropriations act in the statewide salary allocation schedule for an employee with a baccalaureate degree and zero years of service; ((and))
     (b) Salaries for certificated instructional staff with a master's degree shall not be less than the salary provided in the appropriations act in the statewide salary allocation schedule for an employee with a master's degree and zero years of service;
     (c) Beginning January 1, 2015, and until January 1, 2016, classified employees shall be paid wages at a rate of not less than fifteen dollars per hour;
     (d) Beginning January 1, 2016, and each January 1st thereafter, as provided in (e) of this subsection, classified employees shall be paid wages at a rate of not less than the amount established under (e) of this subsection; and
     (e) On September 30, 2015, and on each September 30th thereafter, the department of labor and industries shall calculate an adjusted minimum wage rate to maintain employee purchasing power by increasing the current year's minimum wage rate by the rate of inflation. The adjusted minimum wage rate shall be calculated to the nearest cent using the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, CPI-W, or a successor index, for the twelve months prior to each September 1st as calculated by the United States department of labor. Each adjusted minimum wage rate calculated under this subsection (2)(e) takes effect on the following January 1st.
     (3)(a) The actual average salary paid to certificated instructional staff shall not exceed the district's average certificated instructional staff salary used for the state basic education allocations for that school year as determined pursuant to RCW 28A.150.410.
     (b) Fringe benefit contributions for certificated instructional staff shall be included as salary under (a) of this subsection only to the extent that the district's actual average benefit contribution exceeds the amount of the insurance benefits allocation provided per certificated instructional staff unit in the state operating appropriations act in effect at the time the compensation is payable. For purposes of this section, fringe benefits shall not include payment for unused leave for illness or injury under RCW 28A.400.210; employer contributions for old age survivors insurance, workers' compensation, unemployment compensation, and retirement benefits under the Washington state retirement system; or employer contributions for health benefits in excess of the insurance benefits allocation provided per certificated instructional staff unit in the state operating appropriations act in effect at the time the compensation is payable. A school district may not use state funds to provide employer contributions for such excess health benefits.
     (c) Salary and benefits for certificated instructional staff in programs other than basic education shall be consistent with the salary and benefits paid to certificated instructional staff in the basic education program.
     (4) Salaries and benefits for certificated instructional staff may exceed the limitations in subsection (3) of this section only by separate contract for additional time, for additional responsibilities, for incentives, or for implementing specific measurable innovative activities, including professional development, specified by the school district to: (a) Close one or more achievement gaps, (b) focus on development of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning opportunities, or (c) provide arts education. Beginning September 1, 2011, school districts shall annually provide a brief description of the innovative activities included in any supplemental contract to the office of the superintendent of public instruction. The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall summarize the district information and submit an annual report to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate. Supplemental contracts shall not cause the state to incur any present or future funding obligation. Supplemental contracts shall be subject to the collective bargaining provisions of chapter 41.59 RCW and the provisions of RCW 28A.405.240, shall not exceed one year, and if not renewed shall not constitute adverse change in accordance with RCW 28A.405.300 through 28A.405.380. No district may enter into a supplemental contract under this subsection for the provision of services which are a part of the basic education program required by Article IX, section 3 of the state Constitution.
     (5) Employee benefit plans offered by any district shall comply with RCW 28A.400.350 ((and)), 28A.400.275, and 28A.400.280.