HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2448
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Reported by House Committee On:
State Government & Tribal Affairs
Title: An act relating to membership on the Washington citizens' commission on salaries for elected officials.
Brief Description: Changing the definition of "immediate family" for purpose of membership on the Washington citizens' commission on salaries for elected officials.
Sponsors: Representatives Appleton, Miloscia and Hunt; by request of Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
State Government & Tribal Affairs: 1/19/10, 1/26/10 [DPS].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT & TRIBAL AFFAIRS |
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 8 members: Representatives Hunt, Chair; Appleton, Vice Chair; Armstrong, Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Flannigan, Hurst, Miloscia and Taylor.
Staff: Marsha Reilly (786-7135).
Background:
State voters approved Amendment 78 to the state Constitution in 1986 providing for an independent commission to set salaries for members of the Legislature, elected officials of the executive branch of state government, and judges of the Washington Supreme Court, Courts of Appeals, superior courts, and district courts. After the initial enactment of legislation establishing this independent salary commission, any amendment altering the composition of that commission must be approved by the favorable vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the Legislature.
The Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials (Commission) consists of 16 members. Nine members are selected by lot by the Secretary of State from among registered voters, one from each of the nine congressional districts in the state. The remaining seven members are selected jointly by the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Speaker) and President of the Senate (President) with the requirement that all of these persons have personnel management experience. Of the persons selected by the Speaker and President, one member must be selected from each of the following five sectors: private institutions of higher education; business; professional personnel management; legal profession; and organized labor. In addition, one member selected by the Speaker and President must be a person recommended by the chair of the Washington Personnel Resources Board and another person must be recommended by majority vote of the presidents of the state's four-year institutions of higher education. The names of the 16 selected persons are forwarded to the Governor who appoints these persons to the Commission. All 16 members serve four-year terms of office with terms ending on a staggered basis.
No state official, public employee, or lobbyist, or their immediate family members, is eligible to serve on the Commission. "Immediate family" is defined as the parents, spouse or domestic partner, siblings, children, or dependent relative of the official, employee, or lobbyist whether or not living in the household of the official.
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Summary of Substitute Bill:
The definition of "immediate family" is changed as it is applied to public employees. The parents, spouse or domestic partner, siblings, children, or dependent relative of a public employee who live in the employee's household are not eligible to serve on the Commission. If these immediate family members are not living in the public employee's household, they are eligible to serve on the Commission.
The specific number relating to the number of appointees representing congressional districts is removed.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:
The substitute bill removes the specific number of congressional district appointees.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) The purpose of the bill is to expand the pool of those eligible to serve on the Commission. Currently the pool is restricted due to the definition of "immediate family" of public employees. There are 549,000 public employees in the state who may not serve and who have a relative who may not serve on the Commission. If the definition of "immediate family" is changed to exclude those who do not live with the public employee, the pool of eligibility would be greatly expanded. It unjustly limits the number of people who may serve on the Commission.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Appleton, prime sponsor; and Alan Doman and Carol Sayer, Washington State Salary Commission.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.