H-1414

AN ACT Relating to the regulation of local government self-insurance; amending RCW 41.04.180, 41.05.021, 35.23.460, 35A.41.020, 36.32.400, 53.08.170, 54.04.050, 56.08.100, 57.08.100, and 43.09.260; adding new sections to chapter 48.62 RCW; creating new sections; repealing RCW 48.62.010, 48.62.020, 48.62.030, 48.62.035, 48.62.040, 48.62.050, 48.62.060, 48.62.070, 48.62.080, 48.62.090, 48.62.100, 48.62.110, and 48.62.120; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. This chapter is intended to provide the exclusive source of local government entity authority to individually or jointly self-insure risks, jointly purchase insurance or reinsurance, and to contract for risk management, claims, and administrative services. This chapter shall be liberally construed to grant local government entities maximum flexibility in self-insuring to the extent the self-insurance programs are operated in a safe and sound manner. This chapter is intended to require prior approval for the establishment of every individual local government self-insured employee health and welfare benefit program and every joint local government self-insurance program. In addition, this chapter is intended to require every local government entity that establishes a self-insurance program not subject to prior approval to notify the state of the existence of the program and to comply with the regulatory and statutory standards governing the management and operation of the programs as provided in this chapter. This chapter is not intended to authorize or regulate self-insurance of unemployment compensation under chapter 50.44 RCW, or industrial insurance under chapter 51.14 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Local government entity" or "entity" means every unit of local government, both general purpose and special purpose, and includes, but is not limited to, counties, cities, towns, port districts, public utility districts, water districts, sewer districts, school districts, fire protection districts, irrigation districts, metropolitan municipal corporations, conservation districts, and other political subdivisions, governmental subdivisions, municipal corporations, and quasi-municipal corporations.

(2) "Risk assumption" means a decision to absorb the entity's financial exposure to a risk of loss without the creation of a formal program of advance funding of anticipated losses.

(3) "Self-insurance" means a formal program of advance funding and management of entity financial exposure to a risk of loss that is not transferred through the purchase of an insurance policy or contract.

(4) "Health and welfare benefits" means a self-insured program established by a local government entity or entities for the purpose of providing its employees and their dependents, and in the case of school districts, its district employees, students, directors, or any of their dependents, with health care, accident, disability, death, and salary protection benefits.

(5) "Liability and property risks" includes the risk of property damage or loss sustained by a local government entity and the risk of claims arising from the tortious or negligent conduct or any error or omission of the local government entity, its officers, employees, agents, or volunteers as a result of which a claim may be made against the local government entity.

(6) "State risk manager" means the state risk manager of the division of risk management within the department of general administration.

(7) "Administrator" means the administrator of the state health care authority established under chapter 41.05 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The governing body of a local government entity may individually self-insure, may join or form a self-insurance program together with other entities, and may jointly purchase insurance or reinsurance with other entities for liability and property risks, and health and welfare benefits in accordance with this chapter. In addition, the entity or entities may contract for or hire personnel to provide risk management, claims, and administrative services in accordance with this chapter.

(2) The agreement to form a joint self-insurance program shall be made under chapter 39.34 RCW.

(3) Every individual and joint self-insurance program is subject to audit by the state auditor.

(4) If provided for in the agreement or contract established under chapter 39.34 RCW, a joint self-insurance program may, in conformance with this chapter:

(a) Contract or otherwise provide for risk management and loss control services;

(b) Contract or otherwise provide legal counsel for the defense of claims and other legal services;

(d) Jointly purchase insurance and reinsurance coverage in such form and amount as the program's participants agree by contract; and

(e) Possess any other powers and perform all other functions reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(5) A local government entity that has decided to assume a risk of loss must have available for inspection by the state auditor a written report indicating the class of risk or risks the governing body of the entity has decided to assume.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) The local government self-insurance advisory board is created, consisting of the insurance commissioner and the state risk manager, or their designees, as ex officio members and five members appointed by the governor on the basis of their experience and knowledge in matters pertaining to local government risk management, insurance, self-insurance, and management of joint self-insurance programs.

(2) The board shall assist the state risk manager in:

(a) Adopting rules governing the operation and management of both individual and joint self-insurance programs covering liability and property risks;

(b) Reviewing and approving the creation of joint self-insurance programs covering liability or property risks;

(c) Reviewing annual reports filed by joint self-insurance programs covering liability and property risks and recommending that corrective action be taken by the programs when necessary; and

(d) Responding to concerns of the state auditor related to the management and operation of both individual and joint self-insurance programs covering liability or property risks.

(3) The board shall annually elect a chairman and a vice-chairman from its members.

(4) A majority of the board constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.

(5) The board shall keep records of its proceedings.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The state risk manager, in consultation with the advisory board, shall adopt rules governing the management and operation of both individual and joint local government self-insurance programs covering liability or property risks. The rules shall be appropriate for the type of program and class of risk covered. The state risk manager's rules shall include but not be limited to:

(1) Standards for the management, operation, and solvency of self-insurance programs, including the necessity and frequency of actuarial analyses and claims audits;

(2) Standards for fair claim settlement practices; and

(3) Standards for contracts between self-insurance programs and private businesses.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Before the establishment of a joint self-insurance program covering liability or property risks by local government entities, the entities must obtain the approval of the state risk manager. The entities proposing creation of a joint self-insurance program shall submit a plan of management and operation to the state risk manager and the state auditor that provides at least the following information:

(1) The risk or risks to be covered, including any coverage definitions, terms, conditions, and limitations;

(2) The amount and method of financing the covered risks, including the initial capital and proposed rates and projected premiums;

(3) The proposed claim reserving practices;

(4) The proposed purchase and maintenance of insurance or reinsurance in excess of the amounts retained by the self-insurance program;

(5) The legal form of the program, including but not limited to any bylaws, charter, or trust agreement;

(6) The agreements with members of the program defining the responsibilities and benefits of each member and management;

(7) The proposed accounting and investment practices of the program;

(8) The identification of the actuary who will analyze program claims, investments, and reserves, including information indicating when the analysis will be first conducted and the frequency of future actuarial analysis;

(9) All contracts between the program and private persons providing risk management, claims, or other administrative services;

(10) A professional analysis of the feasibility of creation and maintenance of the program; and

(11) Any other information required by rule of the state risk manager that is necessary to determine the probable financial and management success of the program or is necessary to determine compliance with this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. A local government entity may participate in a joint self-insurance program with similar local government entities from other states if the program satisfies the following requirements:

(1) Only those local government entities of this state and similar entities of other states that are provided insurance by the program may have ownership interest in the program;

(2) The participating local government entities of this state and other states shall elect a board of directors to manage the program, a majority of whom shall be affiliated with one or more of the participating entities;

(3) The program must provide coverage through the delivery to each participating entity of one or more written policies effecting insurance of covered risks;

(4) The program shall be financed, including the payment of premiums and the contribution of initial capital, in accordance with the plan of management and operation submitted to the state risk manager in accordance with this chapter;

(5) The financial statements of the program shall be audited annually by the certified public accountants for the program, and such audited financial statements shall be delivered to the Washington state auditor and the state risk manager not more than one hundred twenty days after the end of each fiscal year of the program;

(6) The investments of the program shall be held only in those states in which participating entities are located, and such investments shall be audited annually by the certified public accountants for the program, and a list of such investments shall be delivered to the Washington state auditor not more than one hundred twenty days after the end of each fiscal year of the program;

(7) The participating entities may have no contingent liabilities, other than liabilities for unpaid premiums, retrospective premiums, or assessments, if assets of the program are insufficient to cover the program's liabilities; and

(8) The program shall obtain approval from the state risk manager in accordance with this chapter and shall remain in compliance with the provisions of this chapter, except to the extent that such provisions are modified by or inconsistent with this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. (1) Within one hundred twenty days of receipt of the plan of management and operation, the state risk manager shall either approve or disapprove the formation of the joint self-insurance program after reviewing the plan to determine whether the proposed program complies with this chapter and all rules adopted in accordance with this chapter.

(2) If the state risk manager denies a request for approval, the state risk manager shall specify in detail the reasons for denial and the manner in which the program fails to meet the requirements of this chapter or any rules adopted in accordance with this chapter.

(3) Whenever the state risk manager determines that a joint self-insurance program is in violation of this chapter or is operating in an unsafe financial condition, the state risk manager may issue and serve upon the program an order to cease and desist from the violation or practice. The state risk manager shall deliver the order to the appropriate entity or entities directly or mail it to the appropriate entity or entities by registered mail with return receipt requested. If the program violates the order or has not taken steps to comply with the order after the expiration of twenty days after the cease and desist order has been received by the program, the program is deemed to be operating in violation of this chapter, and the state risk manager shall notify the state auditor and the attorney general of the violation.

(4) Each joint self-insurance program approved by the state risk manager shall annually file a report with the state risk manager and state auditor providing:

(a) Details of any changes in the articles of incorporation, bylaws, or interlocal agreement;

(b) Copies of all the insurance coverage documents;

(c) A description of the program structure, including participants' retention, program retention, and excess insurance limits and attachment point;

(d) An actuarial analysis;

(e) A list of contractors and service providers;

(f) The financial and loss experience of the program; and

(g) Such other information as required by rule of the state risk manager.

(5) No self-insurance program requiring the state risk manager's approval may engage in an act or practice that in any respect significantly differs from the management and operation plan that formed the basis for the state risk manager's approval of the program unless the program first notifies the state risk manager in writing and obtains the state risk manager's approval. The state risk manager shall approve or disapprove the proposed change within sixty days of receipt of the notice.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. (1) All self-insurance programs governed by this chapter may provide for private meetings to consider litigation and settlement of claims when it appears that public discussion of these matters would impair the program's ability to conduct its business effectively.

(2) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in the public disclosure act, chapter 42.17 RCW, in a claim or action against the state or a local government entity, no person is entitled to discover that portion of any funds or liability reserve established for purposes of satisfying a claim or cause of action, except that the reserve is discoverable in a supplemental or ancillary proceeding to enforce a judgment. All other records of individual or joint self-insurance programs are public records subject to disclosure in accordance with chapter 42.17 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. (1) The assets of a joint self-insurance program governed by this chapter may be invested only in accordance with the general investment authority that participating local government entities possess as a governmental entity.

(2) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, a joint self-insurance program may invest all or a portion of its assets by depositing the assets with the treasurer of a county within whose territorial limits any of its member local government entities lie, to be invested by the treasurer for the joint program.

(3) Local government members of a joint self-insurance program may by resolution of the program designate some other person having experience in financial or fiscal matters as treasurer of the program. The program shall, unless the program's treasurer is a county treasurer, require a bond obtained from a surety company authorized to do business in Washington in an amount and under the terms and conditions that the program finds will protect against loss arising from mismanagement or malfeasance in investing program funds. The program may pay the premium on the bond.

All program funds must be paid to the treasurer and shall be disbursed by the treasurer only on warrants issued by a person appointed by the program and upon orders or vouchers approved by the program. The treasurer shall establish a program account, into which shall be paid all program funds, and the treasurer shall maintain such special accounts as may be created by the program into which the treasurer shall place all money as the program may direct by resolution.

(4) If the treasurer of the joint program is also the treasurer of a county, all program funds must be deposited with the county depositaries under the same restrictions, contracts, and security as provided for county depositaries.

(5) If the treasurer of the joint program is not a county treasurer, all program funds must be deposited in a qualified public depositary designated by resolution of the program.

(6) All interest and earnings collected on joint program funds belong to the program and must be deposited to the program's credit in the proper program account.

(7) A joint program may require a reasonable bond from any person handling money or securities of the program and may pay the premium for the bond.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. (1) No employee or official of a local government entity may directly or indirectly receive anything of value for services rendered in connection with the operation and management of a self-insurance program other than the salary and benefits provided by his or her employer or the reimbursement of expenses reasonably incurred in furtherance of the operation or management of the program. No employee or official of a local government entity may accept or solicit anything of value for personal benefit or for the benefit of others under circumstances in which it can be reasonably inferred that the employee's or official's independence of judgment is impaired with respect to the management and operation of the program.

(2) No local government entity may participate in a joint self-insurance program in which local government entities do not retain complete governing control. This prohibition does not apply to local government contribution to a self-insured employee health and welfare benefits plan otherwise authorized and governed by state statute nor to local government participation in a multistate joint program where control is shared with local government entities from other states.

(3) A director, trustee, third-party administrator, or other person having a substantial role in the management or operations of an individual or joint self-insurance program is subject to service of process in this state.

(4) Moneys made available and moneys expended by school districts and educational service districts for self-insurance under this chapter are subject to such rules of the superintendent of public instruction as the superintendent may adopt governing budgeting and accounting. However, the superintendent shall ensure that the rules are consistent with those adopted by the state risk manager and administrator of the state health care authority for the management and operation of self-insurance programs.

(5) RCW 48.30.140, 48.30.150, 48.30.155, and 48.30.157 apply to the use of agents and brokers by local government self-insurance programs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. Every local government entity that has established a self-insurance program not subject to the prior approval requirements of this chapter shall provide written notice to the state auditor of the existence of the program. The notice must identify the manager of the program and the class or classes of risk self-insured. In addition, the local government entity shall notify the state auditor whenever the program covers a new class of risk or discontinues the self-insurance of a class of risk.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. Every joint self-insurance program covering liability or property risks shall provide for the contingent liability of participants in the program if assets of the program are insufficient to cover the program's liabilities, unless coverage in the joint program is expressly limited to the available assets of the program and the limitation is expressly acknowledged or agreed upon by the local government entities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. A joint self-insurance program approved in accordance with this chapter is exempt from insurance premium taxes, from fees assessed under chapter 48.02 RCW, from chapters 48.32 and 48.32A RCW, from business and occupations taxes imposed under chapter 82.04 RCW, and from any assigned risk plan or joint underwriting association otherwise required by law.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 15. (1) The state risk manager shall establish and charge an investigation fee in an amount necessary to cover the costs for the initial review and approval of a joint self-insurance program covering liability or property risks. The fee must accompany the initial submission of the plan of operation and management.

(2) The costs of subsequent reviews and investigations shall be charged to the joint self-insurance program being reviewed or investigated in accordance with the actual time and expenses incurred in the review or investigation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 16. (1) The administrator of the state health care authority shall adopt rules governing the management and operation of individual and joint local government self-insurance programs providing health and welfare benefits. The rules shall be appropriate for the type of program and benefits provided. The administrator's rules shall include but not be limited to:

(a) Standards for the management, operation, and solvency of programs, including the necessity and frequency of actuarial analyses and claims audits;

(b) Standards for fair claim settlement practices; and

(2) Before the establishment of a self-insured health and welfare benefits program by a local government entity or entities, the entity or entities must obtain the approval of the administrator. The entity or entities proposing creation of the program shall submit a plan of management and operation to the administrator and the state auditor that provides at least the following information:

(a) The benefits to be provided, including any benefit definitions, terms, conditions, and limitations;

(b) The amount and method of financing the benefits, including the initial capital and any proposed rates and projected premiums;

(d) The proposed purchase and maintenance of insurance or reinsurance in excess of the amounts retained by the program;

(e) In the case of a joint program, the legal form of the program, including but not limited to any bylaws, charter, or trust agreement;

(f) In the case of a joint program, the agreements with members of the program defining the responsibilities and rights of each member and management;

(g) The proposed accounting and investment practices of the program;

(h) The identification of the actuary who will analyze program claims, investments, and reserves, including information indicating when the analysis will be first conducted and the frequency of future actuarial analysis;

(i) Any contract between the program and private persons providing risk management, claims, or other administrative services;

(j) A professional analysis of the feasibility of creation and maintenance of the program; and

(k) Any other information required by rule of the administrator that is necessary to determine the probable financial and management success of the program or that is necessary to determine compliance with this chapter.

(3) Within one hundred twenty days of receipt of the plan of management and operation, the administrator shall either approve or disapprove the formation of the program, after reviewing the plan to determine whether the proposed program complies with this chapter and all rules adopted under this chapter.

(4) If the administrator denies a request for approval, the administrator shall specify in detail the reasons for denial and the manner in which the program fails to meet the requirements of this chapter or any rules adopted under this chapter.

(5) Whenever the administrator determines that a program is in violation of this chapter or is operating in an unsafe financial condition, the administrator may issue and serve upon the program an order to cease and desist from the violation or practice. The administrator shall deliver the order to the program directly or mail it to the appropriate entity or entities by registered mail with return receipt requested. If the program violates the order or has not taken steps to comply with the order after the expiration of twenty days after the cease and desist order has been received by the program, the program is deemed to be operating in violation of this chapter, and the administrator shall notify the state auditor and the attorney general of the violation.

(6) Each program approved by the administrator shall annually file a report with the administrator and the state auditor providing financial and loss experience of the program and such other information required by the administrator by rule.

(7) No program may engage in an act or practice that in any respect significantly differs from the management and operation plan that formed the basis for the administrator's approval of the program unless the program first notifies the administrator in writing and obtains the administrator's approval. The administrator shall approve or disapprove the proposed change within sixty days of receipt of the notice.

(8) The administrator shall establish and charge an investigation fee in an amount necessary to cover the costs for the initial review and approval of any program. The fee must accompany the initial submission of the plan of operation and management. In addition, the costs of subsequent reviews and investigations of a program shall be charged to the program in accordance with the actual time and expenses incurred by the administrator in reviewing or investigating the program.

Sec. 17. RCW 41.04.180 and 1974 ex.s. c 82 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

Any county, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state acting through its principal supervising official or governing body may, whenever funds shall be available for that purpose provide for all or a part of hospitalization and medical aid for its employees and their dependents through contracts with regularly constituted insurance carriers or with health care service contractors as defined in chapter 48.44 RCW or self-insurers as provided for in chapter ((~~48.52~~)) 48.62 RCW, for group hospitalization and medical aid policies or plans: PROVIDED, That any county, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state acting through its principal supervising official or governing body shall provide the employees thereof a choice of policies or plans through contracts with not less than two regularly constituted insurance carriers or health care service contractors or other health care plans, including but not limited to, trusts of self-insurance as provided for in chapter ((~~48.52~~)) 48.62 RCW: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That any county may provide such hospitalization and medical aid to county elected officials and their dependents on the same basis as such hospitalization and medical aid is provided to other county employees and their dependents: PROVIDED FURTHER, That provision for school district personnel shall not be made under this section but shall be as provided for in RCW 28A.400.350.

Sec. 18. RCW 41.05.021 and 1990 c 222 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

The Washington state health care authority is created within the executive branch. The authority shall have an administrator appointed by the governor, with the consent of the senate. The administrator shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. The administrator may employ up to seven staff members, who shall be exempt from chapter 41.06 RCW, and any additional staff members as are necessary to administer this chapter. The primary duties of the authority shall be to administer state employees' insurance benefits and to study state-purchased health care programs in order to maximize cost containment in these programs while ensuring access to quality health care. The authority's duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) To administer a health care benefit program for employees as specifically authorized in RCW 41.05.065 and in accordance with the methods described in RCW 41.05.075, 41.05.140, and other provisions of this chapter;

(2) To analyze state-purchased health care programs and to explore options for cost containment and delivery alternatives for those programs that are consistent with the purposes of those programs, including, but not limited to:

(a) Creation of economic incentives for the persons for whom the state purchases health care to appropriately utilize and purchase health care services, including the development of flexible benefit plans to offset increases in individual financial responsibility;

(b) Utilization of provider arrangements that encourage cost containment and ensure access to quality care, including but not limited to prepaid delivery systems, utilization review, and prospective payment methods;

(d) Development of recommendations and methods for purchasing medical equipment and supporting services on a volume discount basis; and

(e) Development of data systems to obtain utilization data from state-purchased health care programs in order to identify cost centers, utilization patterns, provider and hospital practice patterns, and procedure costs, utilizing the information obtained pursuant to RCW 41.05.031;

(3) To analyze areas of public and private health care interaction;

(4) To provide information and technical and administrative assistance to the board;

(5) To regulate local government self-insured health and welfare benefits programs as provided in chapter 48.62 RCW;

(6) To review and approve or deny applications from counties, municipalities, other political subdivisions of the state, and school districts to provide state-sponsored insurance or self-insurance programs to their employees in accordance with the provisions of RCW 41.04.205 and 28A.400.350, setting the premium contribution for approved groups as outlined in RCW 41.05.050;

((~~(6)~~)) (7) To appoint a health care policy technical advisory committee as required by RCW 41.05.150; and

((~~(7)~~)) (8) To promulgate and adopt rules consistent with this chapter as described in RCW 41.05.160.

Sec. 19. RCW 35.23.460 and 1965 c 7 s 35.23.460 are each amended to read as follows:

Subject to chapter 48.62 RCW, any city of the second or third class or town may contract with an insurance company authorized to do business in this state to provide group insurance for its employees including group false arrest insurance for its law enforcement personnel, and pursuant thereto may use a portion of its revenues to pay an employer's portion of the premium for such insurance, and may make deductions from the payrolls of employees for the amount of the employees' contribution and may apply the amount deducted in payment of the employees' portion of the premium.

Sec. 20. RCW 35A.41.020 and 1983 c 3 s 66 are each amended to read as follows:

Except as otherwise provided in this title, the general provisions relating to public employment, including hospitalization and medical aid as provided in chapter 41.04 RCW, and the application of federal social security for public employees, the acceptance of old age and survivors insurance as provided in chapters 41.47 and 41.48 RCW, military leave as provided in RCW 38.40.060, self-insurance as provided in chapter 48.62 RCW, the application of industrial insurance as provided in Title 51 RCW, and chapter 43.101 RCW relating to training of law enforcement officers, shall apply to code cities. Any code city may retain any civil service system theretofore in effect in such city and may adopt any system of civil service which would be available to any class of city under general law.

Sec. 21. RCW 36.32.400 and 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 106 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

Subject to chapter 48.62 RCW, any county by a majority vote of its board of county commissioners may enter into contracts to provide health care services and/or group insurance for the benefit of its employees, and may pay all or any part of the cost thereof. Any two or more counties, by a majority vote of their respective boards of county commissioners may, if deemed expedient, join in the procuring of such health care services and/or group insurance, and the board of county commissioners of each participating county may, by appropriate resolution, authorize their respective counties to pay all or any portion of the cost thereof.

Nothing in this section shall impair the eligibility of any employee of a county, municipality, or other political subdivision under RCW 41.04.205.

Sec. 22. RCW 53.08.170 and 1987 c 50 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

The port commission shall have authority to create and fill positions, to fix wages, salaries and bonds thereof, to pay costs and assessments involved in securing or arranging to secure employees, and to establish such benefits for employees, including holiday pay, vacations or vacation pay, retirement and pension benefits, medical, surgical or hospital care, life, accident, or health disability insurance, and similar benefits, already established by other employers of similar employees, as the port commissioner shall by resolution provide: PROVIDED, That any district providing insurance benefits for its employees in any manner whatsoever may provide health and accident insurance, life insurance with coverage not to exceed that provided district employees, and business related travel, liability, and errors and omissions insurance, for its commissioners, which insurance shall not be considered to be compensation.

Subject to chapter 48.62 RCW, the port commission shall have authority to provide or pay such benefits directly, or to provide for such benefits by the purchase of insurance policies or entering into contracts with and compensating any person, firm, agency or organization furnishing such benefits, or by making contributions to vacation plans or funds, or health and welfare plans and funds, or pension plans or funds, or similar plans or funds, already established by other employers of similar employees and in which the port district is permitted to participate for particular classifications of its employees by the trustees or other persons responsible for the administration of such established plans or funds: PROVIDED FURTHER, That no port district employee shall be allowed to apply for admission to or be accepted as a member of the state employees' retirement system after January 1, 1965, if admission to such system would result in coverage under both a private pension system and the state employees' retirement system, it being the purpose of this proviso that port districts shall not at the same time contribute for any employee to both a private pension or retirement plan and to the state employees' retirement system. The port commission shall have authority by resolution to utilize and compensate agents for the purpose of paying, in the name and by the check of such agent or agents or otherwise, wages, salaries and other benefits to employees, or particular classifications thereof, and for the purpose of withholding payroll taxes and paying over tax moneys so withheld to appropriate government agencies, on a combined basis with the wages, salaries, benefits, or taxes of other employers or otherwise; to enter into such contracts and arrangements with and to transfer by warrant such funds from time to time to any such agent or agents so appointed as are necessary to accomplish such salary, wage, benefit, or tax payments as though the port district were a private employer, notwithstanding any other provision of the law to the contrary. The funds of a port district transferred to such an agent or agents for the payment of wages or salaries of its employees in the name or by the check of such agent or agents shall be subject to garnishment with respect to salaries or wages so paid, notwithstanding any provision of the law relating to municipal corporations to the contrary.

Sec. 23. RCW 54.04.050 and 1984 c 15 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Subject to chapter 48.62 RCW, any public utility district engaged in the operation of electric or water utilities may enter into contracts of group insurance for the benefit of its employees, and pay all or any part of the premiums for such insurance. Such premiums shall be paid out of the revenues derived from the operation of such properties: PROVIDED, That if the premium is to be paid by the district and employees jointly, and the benefits of the policy are offered to all eligible employees, not less than seventy-five percent of such employees may be so insured.

(2) A public utility district whose employees or officials are not members of the state retirement system engaged in the operation of electric or water utilities may contract for individual annuity contracts, retirement income policies or group annuity contracts, including prior service, to provide a retirement plan, or any one or more of them, and pay all or any part of the premiums therefor out of the revenue derived from the operation of its properties.

Sec. 24. RCW 56.08.100 and 1981 c 190 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

Subject to chapter 48.62 RCW, a sewer district, by a majority vote of its board of commissioners, may enter into contracts to provide health care services and/or group insurance and/or term life insurance and/or social security insurance for the benefit of its employees and may pay all or any part of the cost thereof. Any two or more sewer districts or one or more sewer districts and one or more water districts, by a majority vote of their respective boards of commissioners, may, if deemed expedient, join in the procuring of such health care services and/or group insurance and/or term life insurance, and the board of commissioners of each participating sewer and/or water district may by appropriate resolution authorize their respective district to pay all or any portion of the cost thereof.

Sec. 25. RCW 57.08.100 and 1981 c 190 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

Subject to chapter 48.62 RCW, a water district, by a majority vote of its board of commissioners, may enter into contracts to provide health care services and/or group insurance and/or term life insurance and/or social security insurance for the benefit of its employees and may pay all or any part of the cost thereof. Any two or more water districts or any one or more water districts and one or more sewer districts, by a majority vote of their respective boards of commissioners, may, if deemed expedient, join in the procuring of such health care services and/or group insurance and/or term life insurance, and the board of commissioners of each participating sewer and/or water district may by appropriate resolution authorize their respective district to pay all or any portion of the cost thereof.

Sec. 26. RCW 43.09.260 and 1979 c 71 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

The state auditor, the chief examiner, and every state examiner shall have power by himself or herself or by any person legally appointed to perform the service, to examine into all financial affairs of every public office and officer.

The examination of the financial affairs of all taxing districts shall be made at such reasonable, periodic intervals as the state auditor shall determine. However, an examination of the financial affairs of all taxing districts shall be made at least once in every three years, and an examination of individual local government health and welfare benefit plans and joint local government self-insurance programs shall be made at least once every two years. The term "taxing districts" for purposes of RCW 43.09.190 through 43.09.285 includes but is not limited to all counties, cities, and other political subdivisions, municipal corporations, and quasi-municipal corporations, however denominated.

The state auditor shall establish a schedule to govern the auditing of taxing districts which shall include: A designation of the various classifications of taxing districts; a designation of the frequency for auditing each type of taxing district; and a description of events which cause a more frequent audit to be conducted.

On every such examination, inquiry shall be made as to the financial condition and resources of the taxing district; whether the Constitution and laws of the state, the ordinances and orders of the taxing district, and the requirements of the division of municipal corporations have been properly complied with; and into the methods and accuracy of the accounts and reports.

The state auditor, his or her deputies, every state examiner and every person legally appointed to perform such service, may issue subpoenas and compulsory process and direct the service thereof by any constable or sheriff, compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books and papers before him or her at any designated time and place, and may administer oaths.

When any person summoned to appear and give testimony neglects or refuses so to do, or neglects or refuses to answer any question that may be put to him or her touching any matter under examination, or to produce any books or papers required, the person making such examination shall apply to a superior court judge of the proper county to issue a subpoena for the appearance of such person before him or her; and the judge shall order the issuance of a subpoena for the appearance of such person forthwith before him to give testimony; and if any person so summoned fails to appear, or appearing, refuses to testify, or to produce any books or papers required, he or she shall be subject to like proceedings and penalties for contempt as witnesses in the superior court. Willful false swearing in any such examination shall be perjury and punishable as such.

A report of such examination shall be made in triplicate, one copy to be filed in the office of the state auditor, one in the auditing department of the taxing district reported upon, and one in the office of the attorney general. If any such report discloses malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance in office on the part of any public officer or employee, within thirty days from the receipt of his copy of the report, the attorney general shall institute, in the proper county, such legal action as is proper in the premises by civil process and prosecute the same to final determination to carry into effect the findings of the examination.

It shall be unlawful for the county commissioners or any board or officer to make a settlement or compromise of any claim arising out of such malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance, or any action commenced therefor, or for any court to enter upon any compromise or settlement of such action, without the written approval and consent of the attorney general and the state auditor.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 27. Sections 1 through 16 of this act shall be added to chapter 48.62 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 28. (1) This act shall take effect January 1, 1992, but the state risk manager and the state health care authority shall take all steps necessary to implement this act on its effective date.

(2) Every individual local government self-insured employee health and welfare plan and joint self-insurance program that has been in continuous operation for at least one year before the effective date of this act need not obtain approval to continue operations until January 1, 1993, but must comply with all other provisions of this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 29. All rules adopted by the superintendent of public instruction by the effective date of this act that apply to self-insurance programs of educational service districts remain in effect until expressly amended, repealed, or superseded by the state risk manager or the state health care authority.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 30. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 31. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

(1) RCW 48.62.010 and 1985 c 277 s 1 & 1979 ex.s. c 256 s 1;

(2) RCW 48.62.020 and 1979 ex.s. c 256 s 2;

(3) RCW 48.62.030 and 1985 c 277 s 2, 1983 c 59 s 17, & 1979 ex.s. c 256 s 3;

(4) RCW 48.62.035 and 1985 c 277 s 3;

(5) RCW 48.62.040 and 1986 c 302 s 1, 1985 c 278 s 1, & 1979 ex.s. c 256 s 4;

(6) RCW 48.62.050 and 1989 c 175 s 114 & 1979 ex.s. c 256 s 5;

(7) RCW 48.62.060 and 1979 ex.s. c 256 s 6;

(8) RCW 48.62.070 and 1988 c 281 s 4, 1985 c 277 s 4, & 1979 ex.s. c 256 s 7;

(9) RCW 48.62.080 and 1985 c 277 s 5 & 1979 ex.s. c 256 s 8;

(10) RCW 48.62.090 and 1979 ex.s. c 256 s 9;

(11) RCW 48.62.100 and 1985 c 277 s 6 & 1979 ex.s. c 256 s 10;

(12) RCW 48.62.110 and 1985 c 277 s 7 & 1979 ex.s. c 256 s 11; and

(13) RCW 48.62.120 and 1979 ex.s. c 256 s 12.