Date of Adoption: July 20, 1999.

Purpose: Amending WAC 383-06 to revise references that no longer apply due to new legislation and to correct inaccurate information.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 383-06.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 50, Laws of 1999, RCW 41.60.

Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.

Reasons for this Finding: Due to new legislation becoming effective July 25, 1999, the Productivity Board needs to submit emergency rules in order to be in compliance with the new laws.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 7, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 7, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 7, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Effective Date of Rule: July 25, 1999.

July 20, 1999

Tracy Guerin

Deputy Secretary of State

OTS-3275.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 85-1, filed 1/30/86)

WAC 383-06-010
Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to provide guidelines for the employee suggestion program(s) developed ((and administered)) by the productivity board under the authority of RCW 41.60.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.60.  86-04-039 (Order 85-1), § 383-06-010, filed 1/30/86; 83-15-063 (Order 831), § 383-06-010, filed 7/20/83.]

As used in these rules, these definitions refer only to the employee suggestion program(s) unless the context requires otherwise:

(1) "Board" means the productivity board.

(2) "Program" means the employee suggestion program(s) developed by the board under RCW 41.60.020.

(3) "The act" referred to in these rules is RCW 41.60.

(4) "Employee" is any person subject to chapter 41.06 or 28B.16 RCW.

(5) "Suggestion" is a unique, useful or workable, constructive proposal offering a specific change or form of improvement which contributes to state efficiency, service, safety, economy or employee well-being.

(6) "Agency" includes every subdivision of government which is eligible to participate under RCW 41.60, including institutions of higher education and merit system agencies.

(7) "Multi-agency suggestion" meets the criteria for a suggestion, as defined in WAC 383-06-100, and requires evaluation by two or more agencies.

(8) "Award" means monetary or noncash recognition.

(9) Agency "directors" include the chief executive, whether appointed or elected, of each state agency or institution of higher education.

(10) (("Administrator")) "Program manager" is the executive manager of the employee suggestion board and serves as staff to the productivity board.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.60.  86-04-039 (Order 85-1), § 383-06-020, filed 1/30/86; 83-15-063 (Order 831), § 383-06-020, filed 7/20/83.]

The program ((administrator)) manager shall be responsible and accountable to the board for the administration of the program, and shall:

(1) Attend all meetings of the board and ensure an official record of its actions.

(2) Propose policies, rules, and regulations appropriate for the administration of the program.

(3) Report to agencies about implemented suggestions, indicating those requiring a post audit.

(4) Establish and maintain records showing the use and effectiveness of the system, including the participation rate and results of involved agencies.

(5) Interact with agency coordinators regarding program promotion and participation.

(6) Perform other duties as required by the board.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.60.  86-04-039 (Order 85-1), § 383-06-040, filed 1/30/86; 83-15-063 (Order 831), § 383-06-040, filed 7/20/83.]

Multiple-agency suggestions require evaluation by two or more agencies.  The program ((administrator)) manager will nominate to the board any suggestion which meets the criteria enumerated in WAC 383-06-020(7), following processing according to procedures developed in accordance to WAC 383-06-100.  The ((administrator)) manager will coordinate investigation of the suggestion through the multi-agency evaluation processing.  Such coordination may entail:

(1) Obtaining all pertinent information concerning the merits of the suggestion from representative agencies; and

(2) Making a formal report to the productivity board about the suggestion.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.60.  86-04-039 (Order 85-1), § 383-06-070, filed 1/30/86; 83-15-063 (Order 831), § 383-06-070, filed 7/20/83.]

(1) Suggestions shall be submitted:

In a legible manner on the special forms to be provided by agency coordinators or the productivity board office.

(2) To the program ((administrator)) manager at the address indicated on the form: P.O. Box ((1789)) 40244, Mailstop: ((FE-11)) 40244, Olympia, WA 98504-0244.

(3) Submitted suggestions shall contain:

(a) A specific statement of what is suggested and how it can be accomplished;

(b) A brief statement describing the present methods, practices or problem;

(c) A statement of the savings, improved services, or benefits which will accrue from adoption of the suggestion.

(4) Suggestions must also include the suggester's signature, title of position, department and division, mailing address and Social Security number. Providing a Social Security number is optional and is used for payment purposes.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.60.  86-04-039 (Order 85-1), § 383-06-090, filed 1/30/86; 83-15-063 (Order 831), § 383-06-090, filed 7/20/83.]

Suggestions considered acceptable are those which improve the efficiency and/or the effectiveness of state government.

(1) This may include, but is not limited to:

(a) Savings in time or money;

(b) Elimination of waste or duplication;

(c) Improved service or product;

(d) Energy conversation [conservation];

(e) Improved working conditions.

(2) Suggestions shall be considered in the order of the date by which they are officially received by the program ((administrator)) manager.

(3) Suggestions may be unacceptable when a remedy exists through other established administrative procedures, such as:

(a) The need for routine maintenance of buildings or grounds;

(b) Personalized complaint affecting suggester only;

(c) Recommendation for a study, review, survey, design, audit, research, development, investigation, etc., without stating what the expected outcome should be or what solution might result from it;

(d) Proposing items in state stock be issued and used for their intended purpose;

(e) Changing salary, position or classification;

(f) Enforcement of laws, policies, procedures, regulations, rules, etc.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.60.  86-04-039 (Order 85-1), § 383-06-100, filed 1/30/86; 83-15-063 (Order 831), § 383-06-100, filed 7/20/83.]

Reviser's note: The brackets and enclosed material in the text of the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 85-1, filed 1/30/86)

WAC 383-06-120
Payment of cash awards.

(1) Cash awards for suggestions generating net savings, revenue, or both to the state shall be based on the payment award scale that is ten percent of the net savings and/or revenue for the first year of implementation.

(2) No cash awards shall be for less than twenty-five dollars or for more than the maximum amount permitted by RCW 41.60.041.

(((2))) (3) Awards for suggestions which will result in demonstrable savings of money shall be determined by the board after consideration of the savings to be effected.

(((3))) (4) Suggestions which will result in intangible improvements, such as benefits in safety, health, welfare, morale, etc., ((may)) shall be granted cash awards in amounts to be determined by the board in accordance with the intangible award matrix.  The board shall set guidelines, insofar as possible, to make such awards commensurate with the benefits anticipated from the suggestion.

(((4))) (5) The board may direct incremental payment of any award.

(((5))) (6) The acceptance of cash awards shall constitute an agreement that the use by the state of Washington of the suggestion for which the award is made shall not form the basis for a further claim of any nature upon the state by the employee or the employees heirs or assignees.

(((6))) (7) When a suggestion is submitted by more than one employee, any resulting award will be shared by the cosuggesters listed on the suggestion form.

(((7))) (8) Cash awards may not be used for the purpose of computing a retirement allowance under any public retirement system of the state.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.60.  86-04-039 (Order 85-1), § 383-06-120, filed 1/30/86; 83-15-063 (Order 831), § 383-06-120, filed 7/20/83.]