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 who have interest arbitration rights under RCW 41.80.200, the governor or the governor's designee and an exclusive bargaining representative shall negotiate one master collective bargaining agreement. This change clarifies the negotiation process for these employees, ensuring they are not subject to the same coalition bargaining requirements as other groups.

Additionally, the bill modifies the threshold for coalition bargaining by specifying that exclusive bargaining representatives representing fewer than 500 employees can negotiate as a coalition. The language also updates the previous threshold of "five hundred" to a numerical format for clarity. Other provisions regarding the negotiation process for institutions of higher education and the requirements for submitting funding requests to the legislature remain largely unchanged, ensuring that the overall framework for collective bargaining agreements is maintained while providing specific exemptions for Department of Corrections employees.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 41.80.010