H-1080.2  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1415

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives Chandler, Doumit, D. Schmidt, Murray, Radcliff, Cody, Johnson, Thompson, Sheldon, Cooper, Costa, Hatfield, McMorris, Sullivan and Kessler

Read first time 01/24/97.  Referred to Committee on Government Administration.

Setting compensation for public utility district commissioners.

    AN ACT Relating to compensation for public utility district commissioners; and amending RCW 54.12.080.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 54.12.080 and 1985 c 330 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) Commissioners of public utility districts are eligible to receive salaries as follows:

(a) Each public utility district commissioner of a district operating utility properties shall receive a salary of one thousand dollars per month during a calendar year ((which shall depend upon the total gross revenue of the district from its distribution system and its generating system, if any, for)) if the district received total gross revenue of over fifteen million dollars during the fiscal year ending June 30th ((prior to such)) before the calendar year((, based upon the following schedule:

           REVENUE                      SALARY

    OVER $15 million               $500 per month

    $2 to 15 million               $350 per month)).  However, the board of commissioners of such a public utility district may pass a resolution increasing the rate of salary up to thirteen hundred dollars per month, as adjusted under subsection (6) of this section.

(b) Each public district commissioner of a district operating utility properties shall receive a salary of seven hundred dollars per month during a calendar year if the district received total gross revenue of from two million dollars to fifteen million dollars during the fiscal year ending June 30th before the calendar year.  However, the board of commissioners of such a public utility district may pass a resolution increasing the rate of salary up to nine hundred dollars per month, as adjusted under subsection (6) of this section.

(c) Commissioners of other districts shall serve without salary ((unless the district provides by)).  However, the board of commissioners of such a public utility district may pass a resolution providing for ((the payment thereof, which however shall)) salaries not ((exceed two)) exceeding four hundred dollars per month for each commissioner, as adjusted under subsection (6) of this section.

(2) In addition to salary, all districts may provide by resolution for the payment of per diem compensation to each commissioner at a rate not exceeding fifty dollars for each day or major part thereof devoted to the business of the district, and days upon which he attends meetings of the commission of his district or meetings attended by one or more commissioners of two or more districts called to consider business common to them, but such compensation paid during any one year to a commissioner shall not exceed seven thousand dollars.  Per diem compensation shall not be paid for services of a ministerial or professional nature.

    (((2))) (3) Any commissioner may waive all or any portion of his or her compensation payable under this section as to any month or months during his or her term of office, by a written waiver filed with the district as provided in this section.  The waiver, to be effective, must be filed any time after the commissioner's election and prior to the date on which the compensation would otherwise be paid.  The waiver shall specify the month or period of months for which it is made.

    (((3))) (4) Each district commissioner shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses actually incurred in connection with such business and meetings, including his subsistence and lodging and travel while away from his place of residence.

    (((4))) (5) Any district providing group insurance for its employees, covering them, their immediate family and dependents, may provide insurance for its commissioner with the same coverage.

(6) Beginning on July 1, 1999, and on July 1st of each succeeding odd-numbered year, the office of financial management shall calculate and publish an adjustment to those monthly salary amounts detailed under subsection (1) of this section that must be authorized by resolution of the board of commissioners.  Each adjustment of an amount shall reflect inflation over the period since the amount became effective, or the last date the amount was adjusted, whichever is later, and shall be rounded to the nearest dollar.  The office of financial management may make such adjustments using any federal index the director determines most accurately reflects inflation for the state, including, but not limited to, the implicit price deflator for the United States, as published by the federal bureau of labor statistics.

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