_______________________________________________
SENATE
BILL 5956
_______________________________________________
Passed
Legislature - 1993 Regular Session
State
of Washington 53rd Legislature 1993
Regular Session
By
Read
first time 03/05/93. Under suspension of rules, read second and third times
and passed.
Establishing a commission on ethics in government and campaign
practices.
AN ACT Relating to establishing a commission on
ethics in government and campaign practices; creating a new section; making an
appropriation; and declaring an emergency.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.
(1) A commission on ethics in government and campaign practices is hereby
established. The commission shall study, hold public meetings, take public
testimony, and make recommendations on the need and appropriate scope of
legislation necessary to: (a) Promote public trust and confidence in
government; (b) promote fair campaign practices; and (c) ensure the effective
administration of public disclosure, conflict of interest, and ethics laws.
The commission's review shall include, but not
be limited to, the mission, role, and funding of the public disclosure
commission and the administration and enforcement of disclosure, ethics, and
conflict of interest statutes, codes, and rules.
(2) The commission shall include ten citizen
members from all areas of the state appointed by the governor. In addition,
the commission shall include the governor or his or her designee; the attorney
general or his or her designee; two members of the house of representatives
from different political parties appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives; two members of the senate from different political parties
appointed by the president of the senate; and the chief justice of the supreme
court or his or her designee. The members of the commission shall be appointed
within thirty days after the effective date of this act.
The governor and the attorney general shall
within sixty days after the effective date of this act convene the commission
and appoint a chair or chairs from among the citizen members.
(3) The commission is authorized to retain the
services of experts, consultants, and support staff as necessary to carry out
its duties. The governor, attorney general, and the legislature shall make
available to the commission personnel, facilities, and other administrative
assistance.
(4) The commission shall provide a report to
the governor, the attorney general, the chief justice of the supreme court, the
house of representatives, and the senate no later than December 1, 1993.
(5) Nonlegislative members of the commission
shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and
43.03.060. Legislative members of the commission shall be reimbursed for
travel expenses as provided in RCW 44.04.120.
(6) The commission shall expire on March 31,
1994.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.
The sum of one hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be
necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, from the
general fund to the office of financial management for the commission on ethics
in government and campaign practices for the purposes of this act. Any funds
from this appropriation remaining unexpended on June 30, 1993, are hereby
reappropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1995, to the office of
financial management for the commission on ethics in government and campaign
practices for the purposes stated in this section.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.
This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public
institutions, and shall take effect immediately.
