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Personnel & Labor Relations
The House Appropriations Committee held a hearing on several gain-sharing bills on March 27. AWC testified in support of HB 1771, the Governor’s gain-sharing proposal. The bill, which calls for elimination of the gain-sharing benefit after one additional disbursement and provides some modest benefit increases for Plan 1 and Plan 3 members, is in line with AWC’s adopted position of providing one additional payment and then eliminating gain-sharing.
The next day, the committee passed HB 2391, the Fromhold/Conway gain-sharing proposal, and forwarded it to the House Rules Committee. This bill eliminates gain-sharing after one additional disbursement and provides additional replacement benefits, including a better early retirement option for members of PERS 2 and PERS 3. (Please see last week’s Bulletin for more information on HB 2391.)
Like the House budget, the proposed Senate budget released on March 28 presumes passage of HB 2391. Although we would have preferred the Governor’s proposal (which would save local governments $707.3 million over the next 25 years, compared to $217.9 million in HB 2391), we are pleased that it appears the Legislature will address gain-sharing this session.
Family and Medical Leave Insurance (E2SSB 5659)
The House Commerce and Labor Committee amended and passed E2SSB 5659 on March 23 and forwarded it to the House Appropriations Committee, which heard the bill on March 28.
This legislation would require all employees to pay a two-cent per hour premium for an insurance benefit that would pay $250 a week up to five weeks. Employers would be required to collect the premiums from employee paychecks and remit the money to the Department of Labor and Industries. Employers could not require employees to exhaust their other paid leave before taking the leave authorized by this bill.
AWC opposes the bill because of potential conflicts and overlaps with federal and state law and local leave policies. Please contact your representatives on the House Appropriations Committee and urge them not to advance E2SSB 5659.
Presumptive Disease for Firefighters (ESHB 1833)
The Senate Labor, Commerce, Research & Development Committee held a hearing on ESHB 1833 on March 27 and passed the bill out on March 29. The committee did clean up the intent language and eliminated language mandating payment of benefits during appeals – both positive amendments for cities.
While we are pleased with these recent changes and earlier amendments eliminating the change in the standard of evidence to rebut the presumption, we remain opposed to the bill because we believe it is still too broad. Specifically, the bill presumes that prostate cancer diagnosed prior to age 50 is an occupational disease.
Please contact your senators, particularly if they are on the Senate Rules Committee, asking them to vote against ESHB 1833.
Definition of Disability (SSB 5340)
The bill, which significantly expands the definition of disability in the Washington Law Against Discrimination, is now in the House Rules Committee. We continue to work with attorneys representing private and public employers in an attempt to narrow down the definition of disability. We will offer amendments for consideration when the bill is debated on the House floor.
Six-Year Collective Bargaining Agreements (ESB 5251)
The House Commerce and Labor Committee passed out ESB 5251 on March 27 and referred it to the House Rules Committee. This legislation simply allows local governments and their employees to agree to contract terms of up to six years, instead of the current three-year maximum term.
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