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. This provision is significant as it allows for a more streamlined negotiation process for these employees, distinguishing them from other bargaining units that may require coalition negotiations.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that exclusive bargaining representatives who represent fewer than 500 employees can negotiate as a coalition, while those representing 500 or more employees must negotiate directly with the governor's designee. The bill also includes a deletion of the term "thousand" in reference to funding requests, replacing it with "$10,000," thereby setting a clearer threshold for financial requests related to collective bargaining agreements. Overall, the changes aim to enhance the bargaining process for specific employee groups within the Department of Corrections while maintaining the structure for other bargaining units.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 41.80.010
Substitute Bill: 41.80.010