SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESB 5044

               As Passed Senate, March 15, 1999

Title:  An act relating to air pollution control authority boards of directors.

Brief Description:  Changing the membership of air pollution control authority boards of directors.

Sponsors:  Senator Brown.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Environmental Quality & Water Resources:  1/15/99, 2/2/99 [DP, DNP].

Passed Senate, 3/15/99, 35-9.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & WATER RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Fraser, Chair; Eide, Vice Chair; Jacobsen and McAuliffe.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

  Signed by Senators Honeyford, Morton and Swecker.

Staff:  Richard Rodger (786-7461)

Background:  The Department of Ecology (DOE) administers air pollution control laws within the state, but may delegate its duties to a local authority.  The duties may be delegated to a county or groups of contiguous counties.  To receive delegation, the county or counties must activate a local air pollution control authority.

The governing body of a local air authority is composed of members that are selected by locally elected officials.  A "city selection committee," that includes the mayor of each incorporated city or town within the county, is used to appoint city representatives.

For a single-county authority two members are appointed by a city selection committee, one of which must represent the city with the largest population within the county.  Two additional members are appointed by the board of county commissioners.  A fifth member is selected by the other appointees.  Multiple-county air pollution control authorities have a slightly different process for appointing their members.

The terms "city council" and "board of county commissioners" are more accurately referred to as "legislative authorities" of the city or county.

Summary of Bill:  City councils and boards of county commissioners are referenced as "legislative authorities" of the city or county.

The process for selecting members for a single-county air pollution control authority in a county east of the Cascades with a population greater than 350,000 is modified.  One member is selected by the city selection committee, one by the legislative authority for the city with the largest population, and the remaining two members are appointed by the county legislative authority.  This change assures that a city with the largest population appoints its own representative.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This bill ensures that the largest city within a single-county air pollution control authority selects their own representative.  This bill is supported by the mayor of the City of Spokane and by the current representative on the APCT representing Spokane.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Brown, prime sponsor; Dave Mandyke, Asst. City Manager, City of Spokane (pro).