State patrol longevity bonus

AN ACT Relating to the establishment of a state patrol longevity 1
bonus; amending RCW 43.43.386; and declaring an emergency.2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
Sec. 1. RCW 43.43.386 and 2024 c 237 s 2 are each amended to 4
read as follows: 5
(1) Beginning July 1, 2024, an eligible commissioned employee 6
completing 26 or more years of service shall qualify for an annual 7
state trooper longevity bonus of $15,000 on the employee's 8
anniversary date of state employment, which shall be paid in four 9
equal quarterly payments. 10
(2) An eligible commissioned employee who completed 26 or more 11
years of service before July 1, 2024, and who has been continuously 12
employed by the Washington state patrol for at least one year as of 13
the effective date of this section qualifies for a one-time retention 14
incentive. The incentive is equal to $3,750 multiplied by the result 15
when one is subtracted from the number of the fiscal quarter in which 16
the employee's anniversary date falls. The one-time retention 17
incentive shall be completed no later than June 30, 2025.18
(3) The establishment of the state trooper longevity bonus is 19
subject to a change to the applicable collective bargaining 20
agreements negotiated with the exclusive bargaining representatives.21
S-0863.1
SENATE BILL 5527
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators Ramos, Christian, Krishnadasan, MacEwen, Shewmake,
Valdez, Lovick, and Conway
Read first time 01/27/25. Referred to Committee on Transportation.
p. 1 SB 5527
(((3))) (4) This section does not interfere with, impede, or in 1
any way diminish the right of the officers of the Washington state 2
patrol to bargain collectively with the state through the exclusive 3
bargaining representatives as provided for in RCW 41.56.473.4
(((4))) (5) The state patrol longevity bonus created in this 5
section is a time-limited incentive targeted at retaining senior 6
personnel and is not intended to be included in salary or average 7
final salary for calculation of pension benefits in this chapter.8
(((5))) (6) The benefits provided pursuant to chapter 237, Laws 9
of 2024 are not provided to employees as a matter of contractual 10
right. The legislature retains the right to alter or abolish these 11
benefits at any time. 12
(((6))) (7) Beginning July 15, 2024, and every three months 13
thereafter, the Washington state patrol must submit a report showing 14
the average filled positions in field force trooper positions in 15
comparison to the 683 total authorized field force trooper positions 16
in the prior fiscal quarter. The quarterly reports detailed must be 17
submitted to the office of financial management and the 18
transportation committees of the legislature. The authorized field 19
force trooper level as the basis for this comparison may be adjusted 20
as specified in the omnibus transportation appropriations act.21
(((7))) (8) For the purposes of this section((, "eligible)):22
(a) "Eligible commissioned employee" means a Washington state 23
patrol employee with 26 or more years of service in the Washington 24
state patrol retirement system. 25
(((8))) (b) "Number of the fiscal quarter" equals:26
(i) One, if the employee's anniversary date falls between July 27
1st and September 30th, inclusive;28
(ii) Two, if the employee's anniversary date falls between 29
October 1st and December 31st, inclusive;30
(iii) Three, if the employee's anniversary date falls between 31
January 1st and March 31st, inclusive; and32
(iv) Four, if the employee's anniversary date falls between April 33
1st and June 30th, inclusive.34
(9) This section expires June 30, 2029. 35
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. This act is necessary for the immediate 36
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of 37
p. 2 SB 5527
the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes 1
effect immediately. 2
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p. 3 SB 5527