43.220.060 - Powers and duties -- Effect on employed workers -- Use of facilities, supplies, instruments, and tools of supervising agency.

Powers and duties — Effect on employed workers — Use of facilities, supplies, instruments, and tools of supervising agency.

(1) Each state department identified in RCW 43.220.020 shall have the following powers and duties to carry out its functions relative to the Washington conservation corps:

     (a) Recruiting and employing staff, corps members, corps member leaders, and specialists;

     (b) Executing agreements for furnishing the services of the corps to carry out conservation corps programs to any federal, state, or local public agency, any local organization as specified in this chapter in concern with the overall objectives of the conservation corps;

     (c) Applying for and accepting grants or contributions of funds from any private source;

     (d) Determining a preference for those projects which will provide long-term benefits to the public, will provide productive training and work experiences to the members involved, will be labor-intensive, may result in payments to the state for services performed, and can be promptly completed; and

     (e) Entering into agreements with community colleges within the state's community and technical college system and other educational institutions or independent nonprofit agencies to provide special education in basic skills, including reading, writing, and mathematics for those conservation corps members who may benefit by participation in such classes. Classes shall be scheduled after corps working hours. Participation by members is not mandatory but shall be strongly encouraged. The participation shall be a primary factor in determining whether the opportunity for corps membership beyond one year shall be offered. Instruction related to the specific role of the department in resource conservation shall also be offered, either in a classroom setting or as is otherwise appropriate.

     (2) The assignment of corps members shall not result in the displacement of currently employed workers, including partial displacement such as reduction in hours of nonovertime work, wages, or other employment benefits. Supervising agencies that participate in the program may not terminate, lay-off, or reduce the working hours of any employee for the purpose of using a corps member with available funds. In circumstances where substantial efficiencies or a public purpose may result, supervising agencies may use corps members to carry out essential agency work or contractual functions without displacing current employees.

     (3) Facilities, supplies, instruments, and tools of the supervising agency shall be made available for use by the conservation corps to the extent that such use does not conflict with the normal duties of the agency. The agency may purchase, rent, or otherwise acquire other necessary tools, facilities, supplies, and instruments.

[1999 c 280 § 4; 1987 c 505 § 44; 1983 1st ex.s. c 40 § 6.]