SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1069
As of March 6, 2025
Title: An act relating to allowing collective bargaining over contributions for certain supplemental retirement benefits.
Brief Description: Allowing collective bargaining over contributions for certain supplemental retirement benefits.
Sponsors: Representatives Fosse, Low, Peterson, Griffey, Bronoske, Timmons, Nance, Goodman, Cortes, Volz, Ormsby, Scott, Mena, Davis, Macri, Stonier, Alvarado, Doglio, Bernbaum, Ryu, Ramel, Berry, Reed, Callan, Obras, Farivar, Ortiz-Self, Simmons, Street, Pollet, Fey, Berg, Lekanoff, Salahuddin, Reeves, Donaghy and Hill.
Brief History: Passed House: 2/6/25, 78-18.
Committee Activity: Labor & Commerce: 3/14/25.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Allows bargaining under the Personnel System Reform Act over contributions for supplemental retirement benefits, including medical plans, administered by, or on behalf of, an employee organization.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE
Staff: Jarrett Sacks (786-7448)
Background:

The Personnel System Reform Act. The Personnel System Reform Act (PSRA) provides for collective bargaining for classified employees of state agencies and institutions of higher education. Matters subject to bargaining under the PSRA include wages, hours, other terms of conditions of employment, and the negotiation of any question arising under a collective bargaining agreement. The employer is not required to bargain over health care benefits or other employee insurance benefit, except the dollar amount expended on behalf of each employee for health care benefits is subject to bargaining. The employer is also not required to bargain over any retirement system or retirement benefit.

 

Management Rights. The PSRA prohibits an employer from bargaining over management rights, which include: 

  • the functions and programs of the employer, the use of technology, and the structure of the organization;
  • the employer's budget and the size of the agency workforce, including determining the financial basis for layoffs;
  • the right to direct and supervise employees;
  • the right to take whatever actions are deemed necessary to carry out the mission of the state and its agencies during emergencies; and
  • retirement plans and benefits.
Summary of Bill:

The prohibition on bargaining over management rights in the PSRA does not prevent the employer from bargaining over contributions for supplemental retirement benefits administered by, or on behalf of, an employee organization, including medical plans. It is specified that retirement plans and retirement benefits administered by the Department of Retirement Systems, rather than retirement plans and benefits in general, are excluded from bargaining.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.