H-3862.1          _______________________________________________

                                  HOUSE BILL 2562

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              54th Legislature             1996 Regular Session

By Representatives Hymes, Sheldon, Mason, Mulliken, Morris, Dickerson, Pennington, Smith, D. Sommers, Chopp, Hickel, Pelesky, Goldsmith, Koster, Sherstad, McMahan, Beeksma, Thompson, Hargrove, Conway, L. Thomas, Campbell, Johnson and Elliot

Read first time 01/12/96.  Referred to Committee on Government Operations.

Requiring the governor to assist in resolving disputes that state agencies are unable to resolve among themselves.

     AN ACT Relating to disputes between state agencies; and amending RCW 43.17.330.

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

     Sec. 1.  RCW 43.17.330 and 1993 c 279 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

     Whenever a dispute arises between state agencies, agencies shall employ every effort to resolve the dispute themselves without resorting to litigation.  These efforts shall involve alternative dispute resolution methods.  If a dispute cannot be resolved by the agencies involved, ((any one of the disputing agencies may request)) the governor ((to)) shall assist in the resolution of the dispute.  The governor shall employ whatever dispute resolution methods that the governor deems appropriate in resolving the dispute.  Such methods may include, but are not limited to, the appointment by the governor of a mediator, acceptable to the disputing agencies, to assist in the resolution of the dispute.  The governor may also request assistance from the attorney general to advise the mediator and the disputing agencies.

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