H-1845              _______________________________________________

                                      HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 7

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Representatives Jacobsen, Armstrong, Long, Unsoeld, D. Nelson, Nealey and Todd

Read first time 2/8/85 and referred to Committee on Energy & Utilities.

WHEREAS, Substitute Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 120 of the 1983 regular session of the Washington state legislature created the Joint Select Committee on Telecommunications; and

          WHEREAS, SSCR No. 120 authorized the committee to study recent technological, structural, and regulatory changes in the telecommunications industry and to review the impact of these changes on residential, business, and governmental consumers in Washington state and on the state's regulatory scheme;

          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That the Joint Select Committee on Telecommunications is extended throughout the term of the 49th Legislature; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall consist of eight members, four from the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and four from the Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate, with not more than two members from each chamber being of the same political party.  The chairperson and vice chairperson of the committee shall be jointly selected by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House.  Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall use existing legislative staff to the extent practicable; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall continue to explore all relevant matters regarding changes in legislative and regulatory policies pertaining to the telecommunications industry; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee in the exercise of its responsibilities shall be deemed to be performing operations in assistance to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission and shall be funded from the public service revolving fund; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall have the authority to hire such additional staff, create such advisory committees, contract with such state agencies or private consultants, and incur such administrative, educational, and member and staff travel expenses as it deems necessary within its budget, subject to available funds and the approval of the Senate Facilities and Operations Committee and the House Executive Rules Committee in accordance with the Joint Rules; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall be housed in existing facilities and shall be subject to the rules of the house of the chairperson; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee-related travel expenses of the committee members and staff shall be paid from the committee's budget; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall make a report to the Washington State Legislature in 1986 and 1987 and shall cease to exist upon the convening of the 50th Legislature.