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• Introduced by Sen. Rodney Tom, (D-Medina) (D) on January 22, 2009, directs the office of financial management to reduce allotments for all agencies for salaries, wages, fringe benefits, personal service contracts, equipment, travel, and training by $105,450,000 from the 2007-09 biennial general and related funds.
  • Referred to the Senate Ways & Means Committee on January 22, 2009.
    • Substitute offered in the Senate on January 27, 2009, to allow exemptions for the Secretary of the Senate, Chief Clerk of the House, and the Chief Justice, respectively. The legislative notification period is shortened from ten days to two business days. Exceptions may be granted for categories of expenditures that do not commit state funds. The Special Commitment Center of the Department of Social and Health Services is exempt from the hiring freeze. The restriction on employee training expenditures is limited to out-of-state training. Natural resource agencies and the Department of Transportation maintenance programs may hire seasonal employees not exceeding prior levels. The Department of Agriculture may hire seasonal agricultural inspection employees. The hiring freeze does not apply to the unemployment insurance program. The travel and personal services contract restrictions do not apply to expenditures from private or federal grants. The travel, training, and personal services contract restrictions do not apply to the unemployment insurance program. The Office of Financial Management is directed to reduce allotments of appropriations from all state funds and accounts to reflect the expenditure restrictions. The substitute passed in the Senate by voice vote on January 27, 2009.
    • Referred to the Senate Rules Committee on January 27, 2009.
      • Amendment offered by Sen. Steve Hobbs, (D-Lake Stevens) (D) on January 28, 2009, to clarify the type of emergency events that are exempt from the restrictions on expenditures for personal services contracts, travel, and training, and extends the exemption to equipment purchases. The amendment passed in the Senate by voice vote on January 28, 2009.
      • Amendment offered by Sen. Ed Murray, (D-Seattle) (D) on January 28, 2009, to clarify that institutions of higher education, the restrictions on hiring, personal service contracts, equipment, travel, and training do not apply if the costs are not paid from state funds or tuition. The amendment passed in the Senate by voice vote on January 28, 2009.
• Passed in the Senate (49 to 0) on January 28, 2009. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the House on January 30, 2009.
  • Referred to the House Ways & Means Committee on January 30, 2009.
    • Amendment offered in the House on February 11, 2009, to make technical changes to hiring freeze for higher education and equipment purchases, among other things. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on February 11, 2009.
    • Referred to the Senate Rules Committee on February 13, 2009.
• Passed in the House (88 to 7) on February 13, 2009. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the Senate on February 18, 2009, prohibits state agencies from granting salary or wage increases to employees exempted from classification under the State Civil Service Act. Also restricts travel, training, hiring and personal services. Limits equipment purchases to $1000. Applies only to activities covered by state funding. Does not apply to the unemployment insurance program. Exceptions may be granted for executive branch agencies by the Director of Financial Management after two days' notice to the legislative fiscal committees. For the legislative and judicial branches, exceptions will be granted by the Secretary of the Senate, Chief Clerk of the House, and the Chief Justice, respectively. Passed in the Senate (48 to 0) on February 18, 2009. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Signed by Gov. Christine Gregoire on February 18, 2009.