H-4037.1

HOUSE BILL 2827

ByRepresentatives J. Johnson, Rude, Mead, Morgan, Hudgins, Ryu, Senn, Valdez, Frame, Volz, Pollet, and Macri

AN ACT Relating to modernizing legislative operations; creating new sections; making appropriations; and providing an expiration date.

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

(a) The senate majority leader shall appoint three voting members from the largest caucus of the senate, and the senate minority leader shall appoint three voting members from the next largest caucus of the senate. The appointed members must include:

(i) One member of the facilities and operations committee from each caucus;

(ii) One member of the ways and means committee from each caucus; and

(iii) One member of the state government, tribal relations and elections committee from each caucus.

(b) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint three voting members from the largest caucus of the house, and the house minority leader shall appoint three voting members from the next largest caucus of the house. The appointed members must include:

(i) One member of the executive rules committee from each caucus;

(ii) One member of the appropriations committee from each caucus; and

(iii) One member of the state government and tribal relations committee from each caucus.

(c) The nonvoting members of the committee are:

(i) The secretary of the senate;

(ii) The chief clerk of the house of representatives;

(iii) The chiefs of staff from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate;

(iv) The chiefs of staff from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives;

(v) The staff director for senate committee services;

(vi) The staff director for the house office of program research;

(vii) Two representatives of legislative assistants from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate, chosen by the committee cochair and vice cochair from their respective caucuses in the senate; and

(viii) Two representatives of legislative assistants from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives, chosen by the committee cochair and vice cochair from their respective caucuses in the house of representatives.

(2)(a) The two cochairs of the committee are:

(i) One voting member chosen by the senate majority leader from his or her caucus; and

(ii) One voting member chosen by the speaker of the house of representatives from his or her caucus.

(b) The two vice cochairs of the committee are:

(i) One voting member chosen by the senate minority leader from his or her caucus; and

(ii) One voting member chosen by the house minority leader from his or her caucus.

(3) The directors of legislative agencies must cooperate with and provide information to the committee as the chairs may reasonably request.

(4) The committee must investigate, study, convene work sessions, seek public comment, make findings, and develop recommendations on modernizing the Washington state legislature.

(a) The work sessions must include reports to the committee on:

(i) Policies and other steps taken to prevent sexual harassment in the legislative environment; and

(ii) Policies and programs to provide opportunities for remote testimony during public hearings.

(b) The work sessions may also include reports from staff not formally represented on the committee, such as legal counsel for the senate and the house of representatives, and staff in accounting, cafeteria service, civic education, and security.

(c) The recommendations must address:

(i) Rules to promote a more modern and efficient Washington state legislature;

(ii) Legislative procedures, including the schedule and calendar;

(iii) Policies to develop the next generation of leaders;

(iv) Staff recruitment, diversity, retention, compensation, and benefits;

(v) The efficiency of administrative practices, including purchasing, travel, outside services, and shared administrative staff;

(vi) Technology and innovation; and

(vii) Other topics agreed upon by the cochairs and vice cochairs of the committee.

(5) The house of representatives and the senate shall enter into a confidentiality agreement with the department of enterprise services to provide staff support for the committee. Pursuant to the agreement, and if an appropriation is specifically provided for this purpose, the department may contract with additional persons who have expertise in mediation or facilitation to carry out the mandates of this committee.

(6) Legislative members of the committee are reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120.

(7) The expenses of the committee must be paid jointly by the house of representatives and the senate. Committee expenditures are subject to approval by the house of representatives executive rules committee and the senate facilities and operations committee.

(8) The committee shall provide quarterly status reports, including minutes of proceedings, reports of expenditures, and proposed plans for committee activities, to the house of representatives executive rules committee and the senate facilities and operations committee by September 30, 2020, December 31, 2020, and March 31, 2021. The committee shall submit a final report, including the results of studies, detailed findings, best practices, and any policy recommendations, to the house of representatives executive rules committee and the senate facilities and operations committee by June 30, 2021.

(2) The sum of one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, from the general fund-state to the house of representatives for the purposes of this act.

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