H-4017              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1700

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Representatives Appelwick, Jacobsen, P. King and Lux

Read first time 1/22/86 and referred to Committee on Financial Institutions & Insurance.

AN ACT Relating to public advocate for insurance; adding a new chapter to Title 48 RCW; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     (1) The office of public advocate on insurance is created.

          (2) The governor shall appoint a competent attorney licensed to practice in the state of Washington to serve as the public advocate for a four-year term.  The public advocate or any attorney employed by the public advocate are not employees of the office of the attorney general or of the governor.  The appointment shall be subject to the confirmation of the senate.  Vacancies may be filled in the same manner the original appointment was made.  One person shall not serve as public advocate for more than two terms.

          (3) The public advocate shall not, during the term of office, be or become a candidate for any other public office or trust, engage in any occupation or business which interferes, or is inconsistent, with the duties of public advocate, serve on or under any committee of any political party, and shall not have been an officer of a political party for the one-year period immediately before appointment.

          (4) The salary of the public advocate shall be fixed by the governor under chapter 43.03 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The public advocate shall appear for the public generally at all hearings before the insurance commissioner to comment on behalf of the public on rates, policy forms, coverages, exclusions, and other issues affecting insurance.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The public advocate may employ other staff including expert assistants as the public advocate finds necessary for the full and efficient discharge of the duties and responsibilities of the office.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     The sum of ......................... dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the office of public advocate for the biennium ending June 30, 1987, to carry out the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     Sections 1 through 3 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 48 RCW.