HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                      Olympia, Washington

Bill Analysis      Bill No. SB 6698

Revising Timelines for the Salary Commission         Hrg. Date:  2/25/98

Brief Title

Senator McCaslin                                     Staff:  John Carmichael

Sponsor                                    Comm. on Govt. Admin.

                                           Phone: 786-7093

BACKGROUND:

The Citizens= Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials establishes salaries for legislators, elected officials in the executive branch, supreme court justices, and judges of the court of appeals and superior courts.  The commission files a new schedule of salaries in odd-numbered years.  The salary schedule becomes law without action by the Legislature or Governor. 

The commission must hold at least four public hearings before filing a new salary schedule.  The commission=s practice has been to hold hearings before proposing a new salary schedule.  In 1997, this practice was challenged in Thurston County Superior Court.  The commission was ordered to propose a salary schedule before conducting the four required public hearings.

SUMMARY:

The Citizens= Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials must first develop a proposed salary schedule and then hold at least four public hearings on the proposed schedule.  At the last public hearing, the commission must adopt the salary schedule that will be filed.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.