H-4433.1 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2289
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1992 Regular Session
By House Committee on State Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Ebersole, Wineberry, R. Meyers, Winsley, D. Sommers, R. King and Anderson)
Read first time 01/31/92.
AN ACT Relating to the legislature and terms of state officials and members of the legislature; amending RCW 44.04.010 and 43.01.010; adding new sections to chapter 44.04 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. For the following reasons, the legislature finds that the second Monday in January, the traditional date for convening a regular session of the legislature, is inappropriate during odd-numbered years: First, a new governor just commencing his or her term does not have reasonable opportunity to study or revise the previous governor's proposed biennial budget before commencement of the legislative session and legislative consideration of that budget, nor does the new governor have reasonable opportunity to become familiar with other important policy proposals of the previous governor; and second, the newly elected members of the legislature also have insufficient opportunity to become familiar with important state issues before they are required to act on those issues, particularly fiscal issues. Therefore, in order to give more voice to the electorate as reflected in their most recent gubernatorial and legislative choices, in order to provide governors and legislators with more opportunity to become familiar with important public policy issues, particularly fiscal issues, and in order to provide for the efficient transition between old and new governors and between old and new legislators, the legislature enacts this law extending the date for convening of the regular session of the legislature during odd-numbered years.
Sec. 2. RCW 44.04.010 and 1980 c 87 s 27 are each amended to read as follows:
Regular sessions of the legislature shall be held annually, commencing on the second Monday of February in each odd-numbered year and on the second Monday of January in each even-numbered year.
Sec. 3. RCW 43.01.010 and 1965 c 8 s 43.01.010 are each amended to read as follows:
The
governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, attorney
general, superintendent of public instruction, commissioner of public lands,
and insurance commissioner, shall hold office for the term of four years, and
until their successors are elected and qualified; and the term shall commence
on the ((Wednesday after the)) second Monday of January following their
election.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 44.04 RCW to read as follows:
Members of the legislature shall hold office for the terms provided in Article II of the state Constitution; and the term shall commence on the second Monday of January following their election.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 44.04 RCW to read as follows:
(1) On the second Monday of January of each odd-numbered year, the legislature shall meet for the following purposes:
(a) To canvass the votes for elected state officers as provided in Article III, section 4 of the state Constitution;
(b) To judge the election, returns, and qualifications of its members as provided in Article II, section 8 of the state Constitution; and
(c) To administer the oath of office of such state officers and members of the legislature.
(2) The legislature may also elect its officers and adopt rules of procedure at such meeting, but it shall not pass legislation unless convened in regular or special session pursuant to Article II, section 12 of the state Constitution.