04/27/1999 01:40 PM Senate L&C

                                                                                                                                
        HB 61-OVERTIME WAGE EXEMPTION AIRLINE EMPLOYEES                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN MACKIE called the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee                                                                  
meeting to order at 1:43 p.m. and announced HB 61 to be up for                                                                  
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HALCRO, sponsor, said that HB 61 allows exemption of                                                             
overtime for airline employees.  It has the support of the unions                                                               
and industry.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR KELLY asked if it was limited to airlines.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HALCRO answered yes.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR KELLY asked if it applied to airline pilots.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HALCRO answered no.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR KELLY commented that pilots are regulated by the FAA.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN MACKIE asked if there was any opposition to this bill.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HALCRO answered there was no opposition                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR. DWIGHT PERKINS, Department of Labor, said the Department has a                                                              
policy to oppose any changes to wage and hour overtime law, but                                                                 
during the interim they talked to employee groups and individuals                                                               
and found that they don't oppose this bill.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR KELLY moved to pass HB 61 with individual recommendations.                                                              
There were no objections and it was so ordered.