HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2017
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Reported by House Committee On:
Labor & Workplace Standards
Title: An act relating to collective bargaining for administrative law judges.
Brief Description: Concerning collective bargaining for administrative law judges.
Sponsors: Representatives Frame, Dolan, Fitzgibbon, Stanford, Kilduff, Macri, Ryu, Valdez, Tarleton and Pollet.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Labor & Workplace Standards: 2/18/19, 2/19/19 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & WORKPLACE STANDARDS |
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 4 members: Representatives Sells, Chair; Chapman, Vice Chair; Gregerson and Ormsby.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 3 members: Representatives Mosbrucker, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Hoff.
Staff: Trudes Tango (786-7384).
Background:
The Personnel System Reform Act.
With certain exceptions, state employees covered by the state civil service laws have collective bargaining under the Personnel System Reform Act (PSRA) for wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. Under the PSRA, state agencies are generally represented by the Governor for purposes of negotiations.
The PSRA provides for multi-employer bargaining and coalition bargaining. Exclusive bargaining representatives of more than one bargaining unit must negotiate one master collective bargaining agreement covering all of the represented employees. Exclusive bargaining representatives that represent fewer than 500 employees each must bargain in a coalition, with one master agreement covering all of the employees represented by the coalition.
Administrative Law Judges.
The administrative appeals process provides an avenue for people and businesses to dispute agency decisions. The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) conducts administrative hearings on behalf of certain state agencies and some local governments. Its largest caseloads relate to unemployment benefits for the Employment Security Department, child support decisions for the Department of Social and Health Services, and Medicaid appeals for the Health Care Authority.
The OAH is under the direction of a Chief Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), appointed by the Governor with consent of the Senate. The Chief appoints ALJs, who usually specialize in certain areas of practice, and may contract with individuals to serve as an ALJ for specified hearings.
There are approximately 112 ALJs. The ALJs are not subject to the state civil service laws; therefore, the PSRA does not apply to ALJs.
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Summary of Bill:
Certain ALJs are granted collective bargaining rights under the PSRA. The ALJs in supervisory positions, AJLs serving on a contractual basis, confidential employees, and any ALJ who reports directly to the Chief ALJ are excluded.
The only unit appropriate for the purposes of collective bargaining is a statewide unit of all AJLs who are not otherwise excluded from bargaining.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) The OAH handles over 50,000 cases per year. Retention of ALJs is a big issue. A large percentage of ALJs leave within the first few years because the compensation for ALJs is far below that of their public sector peers. Providing the ability to collective bargain their wages will help. The ALJs do not have the same security as similarly situated public employees. There is no salary grid to provide predictability and financial planning. The work of the ALJs has a huge impact on citizens of the state. The ALJs do the same work as administrative adjudicators within agencies, but ALJs do not have the same salaries as adjudicators within the agencies.
(Opposed) None.
(Other) The OAH hears appeals for more than 20 different state agencies with over 100 different state programs. The turnover rate of ALJs has been a significant issue and a challenge for the OAH.
Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Frame, prime sponsor; Jeff Manson; Jenna Crouch; Karl Boettner; and Dennis Eagle, Washington Federation of State Employees.
(Other) Lorraine Lee, Office of Administrative Hearings.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.