BILL REQ. #:  S-0049.1 

Read first time 01/15/2003.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to a hiring freeze within state government; creating a new section; providing an effective date; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1)(a) Except under subsection (2) of this section, the number of employees employed by each agency of state government shall not exceed the actual employment level of the agency on March 1, 2003, for all employee positions paid for, in full or in part, with funds from the state general fund.
     (b) Except under subsection (2) of this section, beginning March 1, 2003, each agency of state government is prohibited from hiring replacements for employees who leave the agency regardless of the reason. This prohibition attaches to all employee positions paid for, in full or in part, with funds from the state general fund.
     (2) The only exceptions to subsection (1) of this section are as follows:
     (a) Positions in state agencies with less than twenty full-time equivalents;
     (b) Service positions within correctional facilities and state hospitals that are necessary to maintain full security or service levels; and
     (c) The following agencies or portions of agencies: (i) Supreme court, (ii) court of appeals, (iii) department of revenue, (iv) state school for the blind, (v) state school for the deaf, (vi) military department, (vii) faculty at the state's institutions of higher education (program 010 in LEAP), and (viii) nonprogram support positions (program 110 and category 9000 in LEAP) in the department of social and health services that provide direct service operations in the divisions of children's administration, juvenile rehabilitation, developmental disabilities, long-term care, alcohol and substance abuse, medical assistance, and vocational rehabilitation.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   This act expires June 30, 2005.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   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 March 1, 2003.