HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 178

BYRepresentatives Cole, Ebersole, Allen, Todd, H. Sommers, Peery, Madsen, Rust, Rasmussen, P. King, Holm, Niemi, Jacobsen, Nelson, Belcher, Wang, Unsoeld, Brekke and Winsley

Establishing the school district pay equity and job analysis assessment project.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:     Do pass.  (18)

     Signed by Representatives Ebersole, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Appelwick, Betrozoff, Cole, Cooper, Holland, Holm, P. King, Peery, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Rust, L. Smith, Todd, Valle and Walker.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means

Majority Report:     Do pass with amendments.  (26)

     Signed by Representatives Grimm, Chair; Bristow, Basich, Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Brough, Butterfield, Dellwo, Ebersole, Grant, Hine, Holland, Locke, McLean, Nealey, Peery, Rust, Sayan, Schoon, Silver, H. Sommers, Spanel, Sprenkle, Wang and B. Williams.

Minority Report:     Do not pass.  (1)

     Signed by Representative Fuhrman.

House Staff:    Janet Peterson (786-7136)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 12, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The state of Washington has addressed the issue of pay equity between state employees. This analysis has not been extended to other public sector employees. Noncertificated employees in school districts constitute one of the largest group of public sector employees where an analysis of compensation has not been undertaken.

SUMMARY:

The Legislature believes it is in the public interest for there to be equal employment practices in the compensation of public employees. To address this issue with noncertificated employees and raise the knowledge of school districts about such pay employment practices, all school districts shall assess their compensation practices and perform job content analysis on all of their noncertificated employees. Districts shall report the results of their evaluations to the Superintendent of Public Instruction no later than August 1, 1990.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall compile the reports, analyze the results and report the findings to the Legislature by December 15, 1990.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall provide technical assistance to school districts in evaluating pay equity in compensation practices for noncertificated employees and in performing job content analyses by developing manuals, training programs and providing technical assistance.

Appropriation:  $30,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 1989 to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for this purpose.

Fiscal Note:    Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     (Education)  Bob Maier, Washington Education Association; Jackie Talley, Clover Park Association of Classified Employees; A. Ruth Harris, Washington Education Association, Classified Public Employee Association; Cheryl Rodway, Seattle Association of Educational Office Personnel, Classified Public Employees Association, Washington Education Association; Pat Thibaudeau, Washington Women United; Marie Evans, Bainbridge Island Paraprofessional Association, Classified Public Employees Association, Washington Education Association; Nancy Murphy, UniServ Director, Cascade Uniserv Council.

(Ways & Means)  Bruce Mrkvicka, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; Michelle Radogevich, Washington Education Association; Susan Johnson, Service Employees International Union; Dick Randall, Public School Employees; Lonnie Johns-Brown, Washington State National Organization of Women; Pat Thibaudeau, Washington Women United.

House Committee - Testified Against: (Education)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     (Education)  The state has shown its commitment to pay equity for its employees. One of the largest sector of public employee that have not been studied to assess compensation practices are noncertificated public school employees. When current pay scales for school secretaries and teacher's aides with direct student contact and instructional and administrative responsibilities are compared to the salaries for custodians and mechanics there appear to be significant differences in pay.  These differences appear to be related to the gender which dominates these job classifications.  It is important that schools become aware of their current compensation practices so accurate and meaningful analysis of pay equity can be completed.  A study of pay equity and job skill analysis of noncertificated position is essential.

(Ways & Means)  There was support for the bill in the Legislature in 1987 and the need is still there.  Also, the state no longer establishes salary controls for classified school district employees.  Pay equity studies have been implemented for local government employees, including school employees, in other states.

House Committee - Testimony Against: (Education)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means)  None Presented.