HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1008

                       As Passed House

                      February 12, 1993

Title:  An act relating to hiring procedures by cities and towns.

Brief Description:  Revising hiring procedures for cities and towns.

Sponsors:  Representatives Romero, H. Myers and Springer.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Local Government, January 22, 1993, DP;

  Passed House, February 12, 1993, 89-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives H. Myers, Vice Chair; Bray, Vice Chair; Edmondson, Ranking Minority Member; Reams, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Dunshee; R. Fisher; Horn; Rayburn; Romero; Springer; Van Luven; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Bill Lynch (786-7092).

Background:  The Municipal Research Council has identified a number of local government statutes that either conflict with other statutes, are inconsistent with powers granted to other local governments under other statutes, or have some confusion surrounding their interpretation.

RCW 41.04.010 states the credit that veterans must be given on civil service exams by state and local governments, including cities.  The preference must be claimed by the veteran within eight years of the date of the veteran's release from active service.  The statutes pertaining to civil service exams for city police officers and city fire fighters contain credit provisions for veterans that are inconsistent with this general statute.

Although it can be implied that the legislative body of a third class city or town can set the compensation for their employees, and that the mayor of a town can hire and fire its employees, there is no specific statutory authorization for these practices.

Summary of Bill:  The credits provided to veterans on civil service exams to become city police officers or fire fighters are made consistent with the veterans' credit contained in general state law for civil service exams.

The legislative body of a third class city or town is specifically authorized to fix the compensation for its employees.  The mayor of a town is specifically authorized to hire and fire employees of the town.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This will help clarify existing law.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  (Pro):  Stan Finkelstein.  (Question regarding veterans' preference):  Howard Vietzke, Washington State Council on Fire Fighters; and Tim Erickson, Thurston County Civil Service Commission.