SENATE BILL REPORT

                            HB 2612

                    AS OF FEBRUARY 15, 1994

Brief Description:  Eliminating elective office candidate qualification evaluations from topics for executive sessions of governing bodies.

SPONSORS: Representatives Eide, Johanson, R. Meyers and Roland

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Staff:  Rod McAulay (786‑7754)

Hearing Dates:

BACKGROUND:

The state's Open Public Meetings Act requires meetings of the multi-member governing bodies of state agencies and such governing bodies of units, agencies, and entities of local government to be open to the public.  In general, actions taken by these governing bodies must be conducted in open meetings.  However, certain actions may be taken during "executive sessions" from which the public is excluded.  Among the actions that may be taken in such an executive session is the evaluation of the qualifications of a candidate for appointment to elective office.  Any interview of such a candidate and the final action appointing a person to the office must be conducted in an open public meeting.

SUMMARY:

Evaluating the qualifications of a candidate for appointment to elective office is no longer an activity which may expressly be conducted in an executive session of a multi-member governing body of a state agency or entity of local government.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested