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• Introduced by Sen. Margarita Prentice, (D-Renton) (D) on January 13, 2010, prohibits a salary or wage increase, from the effective date of the act until June 30, 2011, for exempt positions and for directors of departments and members of boards and commissions. Also requires recognition awards to be limited to noncash items for the same period .
  • Referred to the Senate Ways & Means Committee on January 13, 2010.
    • Substitute offered in the Senate on January 22, 2010, to extend the prohibition on salary and wage increases for exempt and WMS employees of state agencies and institutions of higher learning through June 30, 2011. The substitute allows an employer to grant a salary increase to a position for which it has a demonstrated difficulty retaining qualified personnel, provided that the increase can be paid within existing resources and without adversely impacting the delivery of client services. The prohibition on salary increases is expanded to include awards of cash or cash equivalents given in recognition for performance or longevity. The original bill was not heard in committee. The substitute passed in the Senate by voice vote on January 22, 2010.
  • Referred to the Senate Rules Committee on January 22, 2010.
    • Amendment offered by Sen. Joseph Zarelli, (R-Ridgefield) (R) on January 22, 2010, to expand the prohibition on salary or wage increases through the end of the biennium to include classified employees. The amendment failed in the Senate by voice vote on January 22, 2010.
• Passed in the Senate (29 to 14) on January 22, 2010, to allow an employer to grant a salary increase to a position for which it has a demonstrated difficulty retaining qualified personnel. Any agency giving a salary increase for an exempt or WMS position must submit a report to the fiscal committees of the Legislature by July 31, 2011, describing the increases given and the reasons for the increases. The prohibition on salary increases is expanded to include awards of cash or cash equivalents given in recognition for performance or longevity. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the House on January 25, 2010.
  • Referred to the House Ways & Means Committee on January 25, 2010.
    • Amendment offered in the House on January 27, 2010, to provide an exception for the salary freeze for specified retention and recruiting purposes. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on January 27, 2010.
  • Referred to the House Rules Committee on January 28, 2010.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Gary Alexander, (R-Olympia) (R) on January 28, 2010, to removes the exemption to salary freeze provisions for exempt higher education personnel for critical academic or other retention purposes. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on January 28, 2010.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Bill Hinkle, (R-Cle Elum) (R) on January 28, 2010, to reject funding for the compensation and fringe benefit provisions of the collective bargaining agreements negotiated after the 2009 legislative session and expands the prohibition on salary and wage increases to include employees covered by collective bargaining agreements from July 1, 2010 through the end of the biennium. The amendment failed in the House by voice vote on January 28, 2010.
• Passed in the House (94 to 3) on January 28, 2010. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the Senate on February 9, 2010. Passed in the Senate (33 to 15) on February 9, 2010. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Signed by Gov. Christine Gregoire on February 15, 2010.