S-0291.1          _______________________________________________

                                 SENATE BILL 5376

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

By Senators L. Kreidler and Moore.

Read first time January 30, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Governmental Operations.

Increasing labor representation in state employees' benefits board.

     AN ACT Relating to the state employees' benefits board; and amending RCW 41.05.055.

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

     Sec. 1.  RCW 41.05.055 and 1989 c 324 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) The state employees' benefits board is created within the authority.  The function of the board is to design and approve insurance benefit plans for state employees.

     (2) The board shall be composed of ((seven)) eight members appointed by the governor as follows:

     (a) ((Three)) Four representatives of state employees, one of whom shall represent an employee association certified as exclusive representative of at least one bargaining unit of classified employees, ((one)) two of whom shall represent an employee union certified as exclusive representative of at least one bargaining unit of classified employees, and one of whom is retired, is covered by a program under the jurisdiction of the board, and represents an organized group of retired public employees;

     (b) Three members with experience in health benefit management and cost containment; and

     (c) The administrator.

     (3) The governor shall appoint the initial members of the board to staggered terms not to exceed four years.  Members appointed thereafter shall serve two-year terms.  Members of the board shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.250 and shall be reimbursed for their travel expenses while on official business in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. The board shall prescribe rules for the conduct of its business.  The administrator shall serve as chair of the board.  Meetings of the board shall be at the call of the chair.