Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Labor & Workplace Standards Committee
SB 5133
Brief Description: Concerning the definition of confidential employee for the purposes of state collective bargaining.
Sponsors: Senators Conway, Hasegawa, Keiser, Salda?a and Wilson, C..
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Grants employees who assist the assistant attorneys general of the Torts Division the right to collectively bargain under the Personnel System Reform Act.
Hearing Date: 3/16/21
Staff: Trudes Tango (786-7384).
Background:

The Personnel System Reform Act (PSRA) provides for collective bargaining of wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment with classified employees of state agencies and higher education institutions.  Employees covered by the PSRA include all state civil service employees, unless an exemption applies.  One such exemption is for confidential employees.  Confidential employees include employees who assist assistant attorneys general (AAGs) who advise and represent managers or confidential employees in personnel or labor relations matters, or who advise or represent the state in tort actions.  In 2019, the Legislature granted AAGs the right to collectively bargain under the PSRA.
Summary of Bill:

The definition of "confidential employee" under the PSRA is amended to remove assistants to AAGs who advise and represent the state in tort actions.  Therefore, those employees are not precluded from collectively bargaining under the PSRA.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.