Washington Senate Bill SB5527

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/27/25
• Refer: 1/27/25

Caption

AN ACT Relating to the establishment of a state patrol longevity bonus;

Summary

SB 5527 establishes a new longevity bonus for eligible Washington State Patrol commissioned employees with 10 or more years of service. Beginning July 1, qualifying employees receive an annual bonus paid in four quarterly installments on their anniversary date of state employment. The bill also creates a one-time retention incentive for certain employees who completed 10 or more years of service before July 1 and have been continuously employed by the State Patrol for at least one year as of the effective date. The bill defines eligibility and sets out a formula for the one-time retention payment based on the fiscal quarter in which an employee’s anniversary date falls. It also requires the State Patrol to submit quarterly reports to the Office of Financial Management and the Legislature’s transportation committees showing filled field-force trooper positions compared with authorized positions. The bonus program is time-limited and expires June 30, and the bill states that it is not intended to create a contractual right or to be included in pension calculations.

Impact

The bill amends Washington statutes governing State Patrol compensation and benefits by adding a new longevity bonus and a temporary retention incentive for commissioned employees. It also adds reporting requirements tied to staffing levels and clarifies that the new payments are not part of salary or average final salary for retirement benefit calculations. The legislation expressly preserves collective bargaining rights and states that the bonus is subject to applicable bargaining agreements, while also affirming legislative authority to alter or abolish the benefit.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears generally supportive of State Patrol staffing and retention, with an emphasis on recognizing senior personnel and addressing workforce stability. The inclusion of an emergency clause suggests lawmakers viewed the issue as time-sensitive. No committee transcript or recorded vote information is available here, so there is no documented opposition or support beyond the bill’s stated purpose.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is fiscal and labor-related: the bill creates a new compensation benefit and a retention incentive, which may raise cost concerns, but it also limits the benefit’s duration and excludes it from pension calculations. Another issue is its interaction with collective bargaining, since the bill says the bonus is subject to bargaining agreements while also stating it does not diminish the right of State Patrol officers to bargain collectively. The staffing-reporting requirement may also reflect legislative concern about vacancies and workforce levels within the patrol.