Many Washington state agencies closed June 10 for temporary layoff
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 8, 2011
OLYMPIA – The next widespread shutdown of state agencies as a result of budget shortfalls will take place Friday, June 10, 2011.
This will be the final temporary layoff required under legislation (Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6503) approved last year by the Legislature and Gov. Chris Gregoire. Designed to reduce state government spending for employees, the law required that certain state agencies close on up to 10 days specified in the bill or submit an alternate compensation reduction plan for approval by the Office of Financial Management.
The following agencies, boards and commissions will be closed Friday, June 10:
- Board of Accountancy
- Commission on African-American Affairs
- Agriculture
- Commerce
- Conservation Commission
- Criminal Justice Training Commission
- Eastern Historical Society (closed June 13)
- Fish and Wildlife
- General Administration
- Higher Education Coordinating Board
- Human Rights Commission
- Indeterminate Sentence Review Board
- Information Services
- Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises
- Personnel
- Printing
- Puget Sound Partnership
- Department of Services for the Blind
- Board of Tax Appeals
- Traffic Safety Commission
- Transportation Commission
Many agencies have already met their savings target under SB 6503 and will remain open. The legislation exempts the Office of the Governor and Office of Financial Management from temporary layoffs during the legislative session and the 20-day bill-signing period after each session.
The law also specifies exemptions to allow certain public safety, public health and revenue-generation activities to continue. Services provided by child protection workers, community corrections officers, emergency public health and patient safety workers, and the Washington State Patrol will be in full operation.
Institutions of higher education were required by law to submit compensation reduction plans to avoid office closures. Most offices headed by separately elected officials (Secretary of State, Superintendent of Public Instruction, State Auditor, Attorney General and Commissioner of Public Lands) also submitted compensation reduction plans.
The closures will save more than $70 million in all funds in the fiscal year that ends June 30. The temporary layoff law was passed as part of a series of measures to address an almost $12 billion shortfall during the 2009–11 budget period.
For more information on state agency closures, visit http://ofm.wa.gov/layoff/.
Contact: Ralph Thomas, 360-902-7607
