HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1069
As Reported by House Committee On:
Labor & Workplace Standards
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:
Committee Activity:
Labor & Workplace Standards: 1/17/25, 1/29/25 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Allows state agencies and their employees to bargain over contributions to a union's supplemental retirement plan, including medical plans.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & WORKPLACE STANDARDS
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 6 members:Representatives Berry, Chair; Fosse, Vice Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Bronoske, Obras and Ortiz-Self.
Minority Report: Without recommendation.Signed by 3 members:Representatives Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Ybarra, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; McEntire.
Staff: Benjamin McCarthy (786-7116).
Background:

The Personnel System Reform Act (PSRA) provides a collective bargaining framework for state employees to negotiate over wages, hours, and conditions of employment.  Employers and employees may not bargain over rights of management.  Rights of management include, among other things, retirement plans and benefits.

 

The Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) provides retirement plans for public employees.  Some unions offer supplemental retirement plans for union members.  Plans administered by the DRS, and plans administered by or for unions, are excluded from bargaining under the PSRA.
Summary of Bill:

The prohibition on bargaining over retirement plans and benefits is narrowed to prohibit bargaining over retirement plans and benefits administered by the DRS.  Employers may therefore bargain over employer contributions to supplemental retirement benefits administered by, or on behalf of, employee organizations, including medical plans.
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) Employees at the Department of Corrections are unable to retire because they need the medical coverage supplied by their employer.  People who are injured or have sick family cannot afford to retire.  This is unsafe for workers because they are working past the age where it is safe.  Employees see more coworkers die than retire.  Many coworkers die shortly before or shortly after they retire and they do not get to enjoy the rewards of their service.  The supplemental union plans will help workers retire a few years earlier and enjoy a little extra time.

 

(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying:

Representative Mary Fosse, prime sponsor; Brenda Wiest; Julius Monroe; Christopher Malone; and Brady McNeely.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.