The bill amends RCW 41.80.010 to exempt exclusive bargaining representatives for Department of Corrections employees from certain provisions related to coalition bargaining. Specifically, it establishes that for Department of Corrections employees, the governor or the governor's designee and an exclusive bargaining representative shall negotiate one master collective bargaining agreement. Additionally, it clarifies that this provision does not apply to exclusive bargaining representatives representing marine department employees at the Department of Corrections, nor does it apply to those with interest arbitration rights under RCW 41.80.200.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the threshold for coalition bargaining by changing the employee count from "fewer than five hundred" to "500" for exclusive bargaining representatives. It also introduces a requirement for consultation with independent state elected officials when 500 or more employees are organized under specific conditions. The bill aims to streamline the negotiation process for corrections employees while ensuring that the unique needs of this group are addressed separately from other bargaining units.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 41.80.010
Substitute Bill: 41.80.010
Bill as Passed Legislature: 41.80.010
Session Law: 41.80.010