News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 3, 2002
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke enacts civil service reform

TUMWATER – Gov. Gary Locke today enacted the civil service reform bill, Substitute House Bill 1268, to streamline the state’s personnel system and expand collective bargaining and the authorization for agencies and higher education institutions to contract out for services.

Government and labor leaders joined the governor and state employees in the state Department of Labor and Industries headquarters rotunda in Tumwater for the bill-signing ceremony.

“We’re here to celebrate an event that’s been a long time coming – the signing into law of civil service reform for Washington state government,” said Locke, who, as governor, worked on the bill for five years of the 14-year effort toward passage.

“What we have today is a well-crafted law that will stand the test of time – one that meets all our needs,” the governor said, referencing tough, but good faith negotiations on both sides to balance the needs of management and labor.

“I know it will endure because both labor and management have invested so much into its creation. And that investment will pay off,” the governor said.

Locke also said the bill would meet the state taxpayers’ needs.

“It does that by ensuring that our employees are thoroughly engaged in making state government work better,” the governor said. “It creates a healthy environment where we can work together to make our agencies more competitive, innovative and efficient in conducting the people’s business. That will be absolutely essential as we face the fiscal challenges of the coming years.”

The governor acknowledged the bill’s prime sponsor, state Rep. Sandra Romero, as well as previous Senate prime sponsors, Sens. Darlene Fairley and Margarita Prentice, thanking them for “giving so much to make this legislation a reality.” He also thanked House Speaker Frank Chopp and state Reps. Sam Hunt, Steve Conway and Geoff Simpson for their leadership on the bill.

“I also want to thank several Republicans, including Senator Shirley Winsley and Representative Tom Campbell, for their strong and consistent support for this bill,” Locke added.

The governor praised Greg Devereux, executive director, Bev Hermanson, legislative and political action director, and Duwane Huffaker, president of the Washington Federation of State Employees, for their effective advocacy.

The governor also thanked other labor leaders including Rick Bender, president of the Washington State Labor Council, Eugene St. John, executive director of the Washington Public Employees Association, and Ellie Menzies, executive director of the Washington State Council of the Service Employees International Union, for their hard work on the bill.

On the administrative side, Locke acknowledged Gary Moore, director of the state Department of Labor and Industries, Gene Matt, director, and Sharon Whitehead, assistant director, of the state Department of Personnel, and Fred Hellberg, executive policy advisor in the governor’s office, for sharing their knowledge and expertise to make the bill a success.

In addition to enacting the civil service reform legislation, Locke took action on Senate Bill 5513, compensating highway and ferry workers for motorist assault.

The governor signed into law SB 5513, sponsored by Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, which establishes appropriate and prudent compensation for public employees injured by motorists while on the job performing highway construction and maintenance or state ferry vehicle loading.

Locke thanked Haugen for shepherding the transportation package through the Senate, while still keeping her eye on the working men and women who build the roads and load our ferries.

Of the legislation, the governor said, “This is a balanced and commonsense law that safeguards our state employees – particularly those susceptible to sudden, traumatic injuries performing dangerous work. Today we say to those state workers putting their necks on the line every day that the public services they perform are not only appreciated, but also cherished and protected.”
Related Links:
- Washington State Legislature
- Bill Information
- Washington Federation of State Employees
- Washington State Labor Council
- Washington Public Employees Association
- Service Employees International Union
- Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
- Washington State Department of Personnel
- Rep. Sandra Romero (D-22)
- Sen. Darlene Fairley (D-32)
- Sen. Margarita Prentice (D-11)
- Rep. Tom Campbell (R-2)
- Sen. Shirley Winsley (R-28)
- Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen (D-10)
- House Speaker Frank Chopp (D-43)
- Rep. Sam Hunt (D-22)
- Rep. Steve Conway (D-29)
- Rep. Geoff Simpson (D-47)


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