AN ACT Relating to the legislative systems committee; amending RCW 44.48.090; adding a new section to chapter 43.105 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 44 RCW; creating a new section; repealing RCW 1.08.100; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislative systems committee is created to oversee the direction of the information processing and communications systems of the legislature. The legislative systems committee shall consist of eight members appointed as follows: Two members of the senate, one each appointed by the majority and minority leaders of the senate; two members of the house of representatives, one each appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and the minority leader; one member of the legislature appointed by the statute law committee; one member of the legislature appointed by the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee, with the senate and the house and the majority and minority parties equally represented by these latter two appointments; and two nonvoting members, one from the judicial branch appointed by the chief justice of the state supreme court, and one from the office of financial management appointed by the governor.

The initial members of the legislative systems committee shall be appointed within five days after the effective date of this act, and shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified in the 1987 regular legislative session. Members shall serve two-year terms, beginning with their appointment in the legislative session held in an odd-numbered year and continuing until their successors are appointed and qualified. In case of a vacancy, the original appointing authority shall appoint another member of the same party as the vacating member. The legislative systems committee shall choose its own chairman from among its membership, and shall make rules for orderly procedure.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The legislative systems advisory committee, hereafter referred to as the "advisory committee," is created to serve in an advisory capacity to the legislative systems committee. The advisory committee shall consist of the secretary of the senate, the chief clerk of the house of representatives, the code reviser, the administrator of the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee, and the legislative systems coordinator appointed under section 3 of this act, or their designees. The legislative systems coordinator shall act as chairman of the advisory committee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The legislative systems committee, upon or after consultation with the advisory committee, shall appoint a legislative systems coordinator. The coordinator shall serve at the pleasure of the legislative systems committee, which shall fix the coordinator's salary.

(2) The coordinator shall coordinate and assist the advisory committee in carrying out its responsibilities under section 5 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. In regards to the information processing and communications systems of the legislature, the legislative systems committee shall, after considering the recommendations of the advisory committee:

(1) Adopt, and enforce where appropriate, policies, procedures, or standards regarding:

(a) The definition of systems users requirements;

(b) The design of a general systems architecture;

(d) Equipment interchange;

(e) Software interchange;

(f) Equipment acquisition and maintenance procedures;

(g) Systems security;

(h) Systems usage;

(i) Training and support programs with the following elements: Identification of user training and support requirements, identification of training resources, and systems users documentation and training materials;

(2) Consider, modify where it is deemed necessary, and adopt the systems application portfolio developed and submitted by the advisory committee; and

(3) Facilitate the communication and coordination of information regarding systems application, the exchange of systems improvement opportunities, and the exchange of functional improvement opportunities among systems users and support functions.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. In regards to the information processing and communications systems of the legislature, the legislative systems advisory committee shall:

(1) Develop and submit to the legislative systems committee recommended policies, procedures, or standards pertaining to those matters enumerated under section 4(1) of this act;

(2) Develop and submit, to the legislative systems committee, the recommended systems application portfolio required under section 4(2) of this act; and

(3) Assist the legislative systems committee in carrying out the requirements of section 4(3) of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The information processing and communications functions of the senate, the house of representatives, the statute law committee, the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee, and any other legislative agency are subject to the requirements of this chapter and the standards, policies, and procedures established by the legislative systems committee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Members of the legislative systems committee and of the advisory committee shall be reimbursed for travel expenses under RCW 44.04.120 or 43.03.050 and 43.03.060, as appropriate, while attending meetings of their committee or on other committee business authorized by their committee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The legislative systems committee shall administer the legislative support center in accordance with section 4 of this act. The transition of management authority should maintain the highest level of stability possible so that staff and operation of the data base are maintained. The legislative information system shall become the legislative support center and shall provide automatic data processing services for the legislature, its various committees, and the statute law committee and may by agreement, for the judiciary and the legal or law-oriented agencies of the executive branch. Information directly placed or maintained in the legislative support center by agreement is subject to full security as negotiated with the originator. All such operations shall be subject to the general supervision of the legislative systems committee in accordance with the policies, procedures, or standards established under section 4 of this act. The legislative systems committee shall employ or engage and fix the compensation for all personnel as may be required to plan, supervise, operate, procure, or supply such services. The legislative systems committee may enter into contracts with public or private vendors or purchasers for the sale, exchange, or acquisition of data processing materials, services, and facilities.

The legislative evaluation and accountability program committee and the state actuary shall use the facilities of the legislative support center whenever feasible with an objective of full participation in the future.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. There is added to chapter 43.105 RCW a new section to read as follows:

The senate, the house of representatives, legislative agencies, and the statute law committee are exempt from the provisions of this chapter. However, the authority may provide its services to the senate, the house of representatives, legislative agencies, or the statute law committee at the request of the legislative systems committee created by section 1 of this act.

Sec. 10. Section 9, chapter 373, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. as amended by section 158, chapter 151, Laws of 1979 and RCW 44.48.090 are each amended to read as follows:

The committee shall have the following powers, to be exercised in accordance with the policies, procedures, or standards established under section 4 of this act:

(1) To have timely access, upon written request of the administrator, to all machine readable, printed, and other data of state agencies relative to expenditures, budgets, and related fiscal matters;

(2) To suggest changes relative to state accounting and reporting systems to the office of financial management or its successor and to require timely written responses to such suggestions; and

(3) Pursuant to prior consultation with the legislative systems committee, to enter into contracts; and when entering into any contract for computer access, make necessary provisions relative to the scheduling of computer time and usage in recognition of the unique requirements and priorities of the legislative process.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. Any funds appropriated to the statute law committee for the operation of the legislative information system during the 1985-1987 biennium shall be transferred to the legislative systems committee for the operation of the legislative support center.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. Sections 1 through 8 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 44 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. Section 5, chapter 212, Laws of 1969 ex. sess. and RCW 1.08.100 are each repealed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.