S-0863.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5506

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Senators Haugen, Gardner, Kline, Costa, Prentice, Fairley, Patterson and Eide

Read first time 01/25/1999.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Requiring that employee benefits for contract transportation employees be not less than those provided to public transportation employees.

    AN ACT Relating to restrictions on public passenger transportation system agreements for services by private entities; adding a new section to chapter 41.56 RCW; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 41.56 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) A public employer covered by this chapter shall not enter into any contract or agreement whereby a private entity provides services to a public employer, if:

    (a) The services provided under the contract are of the type typically or historically provided by public passenger transportation system employees covered by RCW 41.56.492; and

    (b) The wages, pension, sick leave, vacation time, and other benefits to be provided to employees of the private entity are less than those provided to public passenger transportation system employees with the same or similar duties.

    (2) Prior to entering into any contract or agreement whereby a private entity provides services to a public employer, the public employer shall notify all affected labor organizations of its intent to enter into such contract or agreement, and provide the affected labor organizations with all relevant information regarding the proposed contract or agreement.

    (3) Nothing in this section may be construed as limiting public employers' duties to bargain with labor organizations, as provided by this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.

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