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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 101
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Passed Legislature - 1985 Reg.
State of Washington 49th Legislature 1985 Regular Session
By Senators Williams and Conner
Prefiled with Secretary of the Senate 1/4/85. Read first time 1/14/85. Under suspension of rules read second and third times 1/14/85, and passed.
WHEREAS, Substitute Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 120 of the 1983 regular session of the Washington state legislature created the Joint Committee on Telecommunications Regulation; and
WHEREAS, SSCR No. 120 was the authority for the committee to begin its study of recent changes in the telecommunications industry and to review the effects of these changes in regulation, technology, and the nature of available services on residential, business, and governmental consumers in Washington state and the impact of these changes 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 Committee on Telecommunications Regulation is extended through June 30, 1985; 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 the telecommunications industry including, but not limited to, (1) what can and should be done at the legislative level to mitigate the impacts of changes in the federal regulatory scheme and new technologies; (2) the economic and social effects on the individual and business ratepayers caused by such changes; (3) the impact on the telecommunications industry of such changes; (4) the ability of consumers to make choices regarding the telecommunications services; (5) the adequacy of the state regulatory scheme; (6) what changes will occur in the telecommunications labor force; (7) whether "cost-of-service" shall become a universal standard for consumers; (8) the cost to government of such changes; and (9) such other areas as are necessary; 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
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, and incur such administrative and educational expenses as it deems necessary within its budget, subject to available funds; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall be housed in existing facilities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That staff and member travel expenses for committee-related travel shall be paid out of the budget of the committee.