HB 1125 - H AMD TO H AMD (H-2989.2/99) 0394 WITHDRAWN 5/18/99

By Representative K. Schmidt and Fisher

On page 84, after line 19, insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 615. The legislature finds and declares that it is essential for the economic, social, and environmental well-being of the state and the maintenance of a high quality of life that the people of the state have an efficient and effective transportation system. The legislature, public officials, and citizens need to know the extent to which state agencies, programs, and activities that impact the state's transportation system are achieving the purposes for which they were created.

The legislature recognizes that if it is to adequately fulfill its responsibility to provide for a balanced, efficient state-wide transportation system, it is essential to establish a joint legislative transportation committee that will provide an opportunity for members of the house of representatives and the senate to examine, develop, and oversee critical transportation policy and fiscal issues and make recommendations on such issues to the house of representatives and senate standing committees on transportation.

In order to accomplish the mission and goals of the joint legislative transportation committee and to effectively serve the house of representatives and senate standing committees on transportation, the legislature acknowledges the need to provide for a level of staffing that will adequately address the exclusive needs of the house of representatives and senate standing committees and the administration and staffing of the joint legislative transportation committee.

Sec. 616. RCW 44.40.010 and 1980 c 87 s 39 are each amended to read as follows:

The joint fact-finding committee on highways, streets, and bridges originally created by chapter 111, Laws of 1947, recreated and renamed the joint committee on highways by chapter 3, Laws of 1963 extraordinary session, is hereby recreated and renamed the legislative transportation committee. The renaming of said committee shall not affect any powers invested in it or its duties imposed upon it by any other statute. All appropriations made to the committee under its former name shall continue to be available to said committee as renamed, the legislative transportation committee. The committee shall consist of ((~~eleven~~)) twelve senators to be appointed by the president of the senate and twelve members of the house of representatives to be appointed by the speaker thereof. Not more than six members from each house may be from the same political party. A list of appointees shall be submitted before the close of each regular legislative session during an odd-numbered year or any successive special session convened by the governor or the legislature prior to the close of such regular session or successive special session(s) for confirmation of senate members, by the senate, and house members, by the house. Vacancies occurring shall be filled by the appointing authority. All vacancies must be filled from the same political party and from the same house as the member whose seat was vacated.

The chair shall be elected biennially by the membership of the committee. The vice-chair must be from the opposite house.

On the effective date of this act, the president of the senate shall appoint an additional senate member as provided by the 1999 amendment of this section. With the appointment of the additional member, the terms of officers elected before the effective date of this act are terminated, and the committee shall hold an election of officers.

The committee shall adopt rules and procedures for its orderly operation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 617. A new section is added to chapter 44.40 RCW to read as follows:

The members of the legislative transportation committee shall form an executive committee consisting of two members from each of the four major political caucuses, which will include the chair and vice-chair of the legislative transportation committee. There will be four alternates to the executive committee, one from each of the four major political caucuses. Each alternate may represent a member from the same political caucus from which they were chosen when that member is absent, and have voting privileges during that absence.

The executive committee is responsible for performing all general administrative and personnel duties assigned to it in the rules and procedures adopted by the committee, as well as other duties delegated to it by the committee. Except when those responsibilities are assumed by the legislative transportation committee, the executive committee is responsible for adopting interim work plans and meeting schedules, approving all contracts signed on behalf of the committee, approving policies for travel of members and staff, and setting policies for staff utilization."

Renumber remaining sections and correct internal references accordingly.