BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to a rural development council; adding new sections to chapter 43.31 RCW; providing an effective date; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 43.31 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The Washington state rural development council is established and governed by an executive committee consisting of eleven members, appointed by the governor. The members will include representatives from the following categories: Business; natural resources; agriculture; environment; economic development; education; health; human services; counties; cities; and tribal governments.

(2) New members of the executive committee are appointed for terms of three years from the current membership list of the rural development council, as much as possible. Committee members should be people who either live, work, or provide direct services in rural areas. As a transition strategy for the council, four representatives (business, counties, health, agriculture) will be appointed in 1997, four (human services, natural resources, cities, environment) in 1998, and three (economic development, tribal government, education) in 1999. The new council will be fully formed in 1999.

(3) The governor shall make appointments from a list of candidates generated by the executive committee. The executive committee shall generate a list of at least three but not more than six candidates from recommendations from state-wide associations. The list of candidates for the county representative shall be generated by the Washington state association of counties. The list of candidates for the city representative shall be generated by the association of Washington cities. In making appointments, the governor shall consider an equitable geographic distribution.

(4) Members of the Washington state rural development council executive committee will be reimbursed for travel expenses based on need and as provided in state rules subject to legislative appropriation and federal award.

(5) The department of community, trade, and economic development may provide staff support, administrative assistance, and office space to the council as available.

(6) The Washington state rural development council executive committee is authorized to establish operating procedures, policies, and bylaws, and appoint committees. In addition, the executive committee is responsible for hiring, evaluating, and if necessary, firing the execute director according to state policies and rules.

(7) The Washington state rural development council is directed to: Inform legislators, the governor's office, state agencies, and federal agencies about the rural perspective on community development issues; identify and in some cases develop recommended improvements to existing resource delivery systems; and serve as a liaison or intermediary between rural communities and public and private resource providers. The council's mission is to improve the delivery and accessibility of public and private resources to meet the needs of rural communities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 43.31 RCW to read as follows:

The legislature encourages state agencies to contribute financially to the rural development council. In addition to the United States department of agriculture and the state department of community, trade, and economic development, all state agencies, federal agencies, and state-wide associations that make a significant financial contribution to the rural development council shall be ex officio nonvoting members. In particular, state agencies serving rural areas, including the departments of agriculture, fish and wildlife, ecology, employment security, health, natural resources, social and health services, and transportation, and the utilities and transportation commission, are encouraged to contribute financially. Financial contributions from state agencies along with those from the private sector and state-wide associations will enable the rural development council to leverage federal funds at a three-to-one ratio annually.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Sections 1 and 2 of this act expire June 30, 2003.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. 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 takes effect July 1, 1997.