Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official page posted by the Washington Legislature, fetched 2026-08-29. This is the chaptered version. The official bill page.
CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1570 Chapter 113, Laws of 2026 69TH LEGISLATURE 2026 REGULAR SESSION WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY—NONACADEMIC STUDENT EMPLOYEES—COLLECTIVE BARGAINING EFFECTIVE DATE: March 18, 2026 Passed by the House February 14, 2026 Yeas 58 Nays 35 LAURIE JINKINS Speaker of the House of Representatives Passed by the Senate March 4, 2026 Yeas 29 Nays 19 DENNY HECK President of the Senate CERTIFICATE I, Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1570 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth. BERNARD DEAN Chief Clerk Chief Clerk Approved March 18, 2026 10:57 AM FILED March 19, 2026 BOB FERGUSON Governor of the State of Washington Secretary of State State of Washington SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1570 Passed Legislature - 2026 Regular Session State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By House Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Timmons, Fosse, Berry, Taylor, Parshley, Berg, Cortes, Stonier, Scott, Reed, Peterson, Ryu, Obras, Gregerson, Macri, Nance, Mena, Goodman, Reeves, Ramel, Shavers, Simmons, Doglio, Pollet, and Salahuddin) READ FIRST TIME 02/04/26. AN ACT Relating to collective bargaining for certain employees who are enrolled in academic programs at public institutions of higher education; adding a new section to chapter 41.56 RCW; and declaring an emergency. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON: NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 41.56 RCW to read as follows: (1)(a) In addition to the entities listed in RCW 41.56.101, this chapter applies to all nonacademic student employees not covered by RCW 41.56.421 who are enrolled in an academic or certificate program on any campus of Western Washington University and includes nonacademic student employees in the following classifications and those whose duties and responsibilities are substantially equivalent: (i) Advertising assistant; (ii) Community service center coordinator; (iii) Computer assistant, except not individuals employed as computer assistants in the student technology center; (iv) Crafts lab assistant; (v) Customer service representative; (vi) Event assistant; (vii) Media assistant; (viii) Percussion area coordinator; (ix) Program support staff; (x) Program support/committee student representative; (xi) Writer/editor; (xii) Viking Union building manager; (xiii) Resident advisors; (xiv) Apartment advisors; and (xv) Inclusion assistant. (b) For the purposes of collective bargaining under this section, an employee is considered enrolled in an academic or certificate program during campus academic breaks, including any winter, spring, or summer break, if the employee is employed by Western Washington University over the course of the campus academic break and is enrolled in an academic or certificate program on any campus of Western Washington University in the quarter or semester immediately preceding, or subsequent to, the campus academic break. (c)(i) For the purposes of this section, "employee" does not include employees already eligible for collective bargaining under this chapter or chapters 28B.52, 41.76, or 41.80 RCW. (ii) This section does not authorize collective bargaining for employees excluded from collective bargaining under RCW 41.56.401(1) (a) through (e). (2) The employees in subsection (1) of this section constitute an appropriate bargaining unit at Western Washington University. (3)(a) The scope of bargaining for employees under this section excludes: (i) The ability to terminate the employment of any individual if the individual is not meeting academic requirements as determined by Western Washington University; (ii) The amount of tuition or fees at Western Washington University. However, tuition and fee remission and waiver is within the scope of bargaining; (iii) Western Washington University's academic calendar; and (iv) The number of students to be admitted to a particular class or class section at Western Washington University. (b)(i) Except as provided in (b)(ii) of this subsection, provisions of collective bargaining agreements relating to compensation must not exceed the amount or percentage established by the legislature in the appropriations act. If any compensation provision is affected by subsequent modification of the appropriations act by the legislature, both parties must immediately enter into collective bargaining for the sole purpose of arriving at a mutually agreed-upon replacement for the affected provision. (ii) Western Washington University may provide additional compensation to student employees covered by this section that exceeds that provided by the legislature. NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately. Passed by the House February 14, 2026. Passed by the Senate March 4, 2026. Approved by the Governor March 18, 2026. Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 19, 2026.
Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.