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Contracting Out

In 2002, the Legislature passed a major piece of legislation as SHB 1268. Titled the “Personnel System Reform Act of 2002, Governor Locke heralded it as, “…an historic civil service reform act” when he signed it into law on April 3, 2002.

The design profession monitored the bill because of concern over the section dealing with “contracting out”. In that section, state agencies or institutions of higher learning are allowed to contract out for services if certain conditions are met. Those conditions include allowing classified employees to bid for the contracts through employee business units.

The Department of General Administration is currently in the rulemaking process to implement the provisions of SHB 1268. Their activities may be monitored at http://www.ga.wa.gov/competitivecontracting/.

The Architects, Engineers Legislative Council (AELC) is monitoring the rulemaking process and reports that it is unclear as to whether professional services will be included. Public employee unions are trying to scoop up all services in this implementation process. Business groups are organizing for a battle between outsourcing and insourcing. Their biggest challenge is to create a counterbalance to public unions.

AELC plans to monitor the situation closely and keep our members informed of developments.