HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1100

As Reported by House Committee On:

Transportation

Title:  An act relating to notice requirements.

Brief Description:  Modifying notice requirements.

Sponsors:  Representatives Fisher and Woods; by request of Marine Employees' Commission.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation:  2/19/01, 2/22/01 [DP].

  Brief Summary of Bill

$Allows the Marine Employees Commission to serve notices by fax with transaction report verification and same-day United States Postal Service mailing of copies.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass. Signed by 29 members: Representatives Fisher, Democratic Co‑Chair; Mitchell, Republican Co‑Chair; Cooper, Democratic Vice Chair; Ericksen, Republican Vice Chair; Hankins, Republican Vice Chair; Lovick, Democratic Vice Chair; Ahern, Anderson, Armstrong, G. Chandler, Edmonds, Haigh, Hatfield, Hurst, Jackley, Jarrett, Marine, Mielke, Morell, Murray, Reardon, Rockefeller, Romero, Schindler, Simpson, Skinner, Sump, Wood and Woods.

Staff:  Paul Neal (786‑7315).

Background:

The Marine Employees Commission (MEC) was established in 1983 to oversee labor and management relations for the Washington State Ferry (WSF) system.  The purpose of the MEC is to:

$Assist in resolving labor disputes:

-Adjudicate all complaints, grievances, and disputes between labor and management arising from ferry operations; and/or

-investigate charges of unfair labor practices.

$Assist in the collective bargaining process:

-Determine bargaining units;

-conduct fact-finding studies and salary surveys;

-certify fair representation organizations; and/or

-determine whether labor agreements exceed statutory limitations and order reductions accordingly.

In the course of discharging these duties, the MEC issues several types of official communications.  This includes hearing notices, decisions, dismissals, and settlement conferences.  Currently, any notice the MEC serves must be mailed by restricted certified mail.  This requirement also applies to the different parties the MEC works with.

Because of the strict delivery demands of restricted certified mail, serving notices by restricted certified mail can cause great delays under some circumstances.

Summary of  Bill:

The requirement for service of notices to be mailed by restricted certified mail is eliminated.  The MEC is given the option to serve notices by certified mail or by fax with transaction report verification and same-day United States Postal Service mailing of copies.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  None.