Park rangers press for interest arbitration as committee considers expanding bargaining rights
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Summary
Witnesses and park rangers urged the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee to extend interest arbitration under the PSRA to Parks and Recreation Commission rangers (SB 5,379), citing pay gaps, vacancies and retention problems; staff said a partial fiscal note estimates modest costs for OFM and the commission.
The committee heard testimony on proposed substitute Senate Bill 5,379, which would make certain Parks and Recreation Commission employees—commissioned park rangers—eligible for interest arbitration under the Personnel System Reform Act when collective bargaining reaches impasse.
Jarrett Sacks, staff, said the bill would add the commission's classified employees into interest arbitration eligibility and that a partial fiscal note shows $548,000 to OFM (labor relations service account) for the remainder of the biennium and $212,000 to the Parks & Recreation Commission from the general fund.
Testimony in support came from Andrew Kalinin, a park ranger and WFSE member who outlined recruitment and retention difficulties, citing 121 authorized peace‑officer positions with roughly 90 filled and about 22 patrol vacancies. Kalinin said park rangers perform many law‑enforcement and public‑safety roles while typically earning significantly less than peer agencies and that interest arbitration would help retain trained officers.
Senators questioned Kalinin on staffing counts, duties and strike rights; Kalinin said rangers hold equivalent peace‑officer certification and cannot strike. The committee closed public testimony on the bill after Q&A and did not take final action during the hearing.