FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1530

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.

C 168 L 17

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Grandfathering the accrual of vacation leave above the statutory maximum for certain employees of the Washington state ferries.

Sponsors: Representatives Gregerson, Morris and Appleton; by request of Office of Financial Management.

House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards

House Committee on Appropriations

House Committee on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

Background:

Generally, state employees earn no less than one paid vacation day for each month of employment, if employment is continuous for six months. The amount of vacation leave a state employee earns increases depending on the number of years the employee is continuously employed. State employees may accrue up to 30 working days of unused vacation leave. An employee may accrue vacation leave in excess of 30 days under limited circumstances, and the excess leave may only be extended for a limited time. Vacation leave that is in excess of the 30 day statutory maximum will generally be extinguished if not used by the employee's anniversary date.State ferry employees are employees of the Marine Transportation Division (MTD) of the Washington State Department of Transportation (DOT). They collectively bargain with the state, which is represented by the Governor or Governor's designee; however, prior to 2006, state ferry employees who were members of a ferry employee organization bargained with the MTD. Some of the collective bargaining agreements for state ferry employees allow for the accrual of vacation leave in excess of the statutory maximum for state employees.

Summary:

State ferry employees covered by collective bargaining agreements containing provisions in effect on June 30, 2017, that allow accrual of unused vacation leave up to 320 hours are allowed to continue the higher accrual limit until those provisions in the agreement are modified or the bargaining unit changes its exclusive representative or is decertified.

Votes on Final Passage:

House

88

9

Senate

49

0

Effective:

July 1, 2017