H-3596.1  _______________________________________________

 

                          HOUSE BILL 2120

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1996 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Koster, Stevens, Goldsmith, Hymes, Pennington, Radcliff, Mulliken, Hargrove, McMorris, Buck, Carrell, Campbell, Smith, Johnson, Thompson, Backlund and Benton

 

Read first time 01/08/96.  Referred to Committee on Government Operations.

 

Prohibiting use of public funds to pay dues to professional organizations for certain public officials.



    AN ACT Relating to membership of public officials in professional associations and organizations; amending RCW 28A.310.210, 28A.320.110, 28A.345.050, and 36.70.310; adding a new section to chapter 28A.150 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 36.01 RCW.

 

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

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.150 RCW to read as follows:

    No public funds may be used to pay membership dues to a professional association or organization for any elected or appointed  director, administrator, or principal or any other employee of a school district or educational service district.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 35.21 RCW to read as follows:

    No public funds may be used to pay membership dues to a professional association or organization for any elected or appointed officer or official or any other employee of a city or town.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 36.01 RCW to read as follows:

    No public funds may be used to pay membership dues to a professional association or organization for any elected or appointed officer or official or any other employee of a county.

 

    Sec. 4.  RCW 28A.310.210 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 275 s 19 are each amended to read as follows:

    In addition to other powers and duties prescribed by law every educational service district board shall be authorized to((:

    (1))) pay the expenses of its members in accordance with law for attendance at state-wide meetings of educational service district board members.

    (((2) Pay dues from educational service district funds in an amount not to exceed one hundred dollars per board member per year for membership in a state-wide association of educational service district board members:  PROVIDED, That dues to such an association shall not be paid unless the formation of such an association, including its constitution and bylaws, is approved by a resolution passed by at least two-thirds of the educational service district boards within the state:  PROVIDED FURTHER, That such association if formed shall not employ any staff but shall contract either with the Washington state school directors' association or with the superintendent of public instruction for staff and informational services.))

 

    Sec. 5.  RCW 28A.320.110 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 275 s 112 are each amended to read as follows:

    For the purpose of obtaining information on school organization, administration, operation, finance and instruction, school districts and educational service districts may contract for or purchase information and research services from public universities, colleges and other public bodies, or from private individuals or agencies.  ((For the same purpose, school districts and educational service district superintendents may become members of any nonprofit organization whose principal purpose is to provide such services.))  Charges payable for such services ((and membership fees)) payable to such organizations may be based on the cost of providing such services, on the benefit received by the participating school districts measured by enrollment, or on any other reasonable basis, and may be paid before, during, or after the receipt of such services ((or the participation as members of such organizations)).

 

    Sec. 6.  RCW 28A.345.050 and 1983 c 187 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    The school directors' association may establish a graduated schedule of dues for members of the association based upon the number of certificated personnel in each district.  Dues shall be established for the directors of each district as a group.  No public funds may be used to pay membership dues.  The total of all dues assessed shall not exceed twenty-seven cents for each one thousand dollars of the state-wide total of all school districts' general fund receipts.  ((The board of directors of a school district shall make provision for payment out of the general fund of the district of the dues of association members resident in the district, which payment shall be made in the manner provided by law for the payment of other claims against the general fund of the district.))  The dues for each ((school district)) member shall be due and payable on the first day of January of each year.

 

    Sec. 7.  RCW 36.70.310 and 1963 c 4 s 36.70.310 are each amended to read as follows:

    Members of planning agencies shall inform themselves on matter affecting the functions and duties of planning agencies.  For that purpose, and when authorized, such members may attend planning conferences, meetings of planning executives or of technical bodies; hearings on planning legislation or matters relating to the work of the planning agency.  The reasonable travel expenses, registration fees and other costs incident to such attendance at such meetings and conferences shall be charges upon the funds allocated to the planning agency.  In addition, members of a commission may also receive reasonable travel expenses to and from their usual place of business to the place of a regular meeting of the commission.  ((The planning agency may, when authorized, pay dues for membership in organizations specializing in the subject of planning.))  The planning agency may, when authorized, subscribe to technical publications pertaining to planning.

 


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