BILL REQ. #:  H-0247.1 

Read first time 01/26/2007.   Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

     AN ACT Relating to negotiating state patrol officer wages and wage-related matters; and amending RCW 41.56.475.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 41.56.475 and 2005 c 438 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     In addition to the classes of employees listed in RCW 41.56.030(7), the provisions of RCW 41.56.430 through 41.56.452 and 41.56.470, 41.56.480, and 41.56.490 also apply to Washington state patrol officers appointed under RCW 43.43.020 as provided in this section, subject to the following:
     (1) The mediator or arbitration panel may consider only matters that are subject to bargaining under RCW 41.56.473.
     (2)(a) The decision of an arbitration panel is not binding on the legislature and, if the legislature does not approve the funds necessary to implement provisions pertaining to wages and wage-related matters of an arbitrated collective bargaining agreement, is not binding on the state or the Washington state patrol.
     (b) The decision of an arbitration panel is binding on the governor and the Washington state patrol.
     (3) In making its determination, the arbitration panel shall be mindful of the legislative purpose enumerated in RCW 41.56.430 and, as additional standards or guidelines to aid it in reaching a decision, shall take into consideration the following factors:
     (a) The constitutional and statutory authority of the employer;
     (b) Stipulations of the parties;
     (c) Comparison of the hours and conditions of employment of personnel involved in the proceedings with the hours and conditions of employment of like personnel of like employers of similar size on the west coast of the United States;
     (d) Changes in any of the foregoing circumstances during the pendency of the proceedings; and
     (e) Such other factors, not confined to the foregoing, which are normally or traditionally taken into consideration in the determination of matters that are subject to bargaining under RCW 41.56.473.