Laws, Rules & Policies
The PSCSC is directed and authorized by municipal and state law to oversee the City’s merit-based employment system for public safety employees. The PSCSC relies on these laws and creates policies of its own to carry out its work. The foundational laws and policies guiding the work of the PSCSC are provided below for your reference.
The PSCSC is a policymaking body that adopts Rules of Practice and Procedure for administration of the public safety civil service system. These Rules interpret and provide direction on the day-to-day administration of the Seattle Municipal Code, City Charter, and Revised Code of Washington.
The Rules of Practice and Procedure cover the fundamental elements of a civil service system, including classification, examinations, registers and eligibility, certification, probation, layoff and separation, and appeals. Other conditions of employment, such as compensation, insurance benefits, and paid time off, are outside the scope of the Rules of Practice and Procedure.
- PSCSC Rules of Practice and Procedure (current)
- Previous PSCSC Rules of Practice and Procedure (Seattle Clerk's website)
The PSCSC occasionally issues advisory opinions or memos to provide interpretation or effectuate policies. Email publicsafety@seattle.gov if you are seeking a copy of an advisory memo or opinion that is not available below.
- Advisory Opinion 22-01, issued on June 27, 2022, advising when the PSCSC will issue a certification for promotional consideration.
City Charter is municipal law that may only be adopted and/or revised by Seattle voters. Seattle Municipal Code is comprised of City Ordinances passed by City Council. The municipal laws that are most relevant to the PSCSC are:
The Washington State Legislature passed laws creating a public safety civil service in the 1930s, along with related benefits and conditions of employment, such as collective bargaining and pensions.
- Revised Code of Washington 41.08, Civil Service for City Firefighters
- Revised Code of Washington 41.12, Civil Service for City Police
- Revised Code of Washington Title 41, Public Employment, Civil Service, and Pensions
Uniformed police officers and fire fighters are represented by unions, who negotiate mandatory subjects of bargaining pursuant to the Revised Code of Washington Chapter 41.56. Together, the four public safety unions represent over 2,000 uniformed City employees up to the rank of Police Captain at the Seattle Police Department and Battalion Chief at the Seattle Fire Department.
The PSCSC collaborates with the City's labor partners to ensure that union and civil service rights and interests are met in the administration of the PSCSC Rules of Practice and Procedures.
The Seattle Plice Officers Guild, Seattle Police Management Association, IAFF Local 27 Firefighters, and IAFF Local 2898 Fire Chiefs collecive bargaining agreements can be found here.