The bill amends RCW 41.56.157 to establish collective bargaining rights for language access providers, designating the governor as their public employer for these purposes. It outlines specific bargaining units for language access providers who offer spoken language interpreter services across various state departments, including the Department of Social and Health Services and the Department of Labor and Industries. The bill specifies that collective bargaining will focus on economic compensation, professional development, grievance procedures, and health benefits, while explicitly excluding retirement benefits from negotiations. Additionally, it clarifies that language access providers do not have the right to strike and that any collective bargaining agreement must be approved by the legislature for funding.

New provisions include the requirement for the governor to submit a request for funds necessary to implement collective bargaining agreements as part of the biennial budget, and a stipulation that if a conflict arises between an executive order or agency policy and a collective bargaining agreement, the agreement will take precedence. The bill also mandates annual reporting from relevant state departments on their processes for procuring language access services and the implementation of previous legislative changes. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance the rights and working conditions of language access providers while ensuring legislative oversight and financial feasibility.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 41.56.157