SENATE BILL REPORT
SSB 5319
As Passed Senate, March 9, 2001
Title: An act relating to the municipal research council.
Brief Description: Changing provisions relating to the municipal research council.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on State & Local Government (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen, Horn and Gardner).
Brief History:
Committee Activity: State & Local Government: 1/29/01, 2/1/01 [DPS].
Passed Senate: 3/9/01, 48-0.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5319 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Fairley, Vice Chair; Hale, Haugen, Horn, Kline, McCaslin and Roach.
Staff: Eugene Green (786‑7405)
Background: The Municipal Research Council (Council) is a state agency which contracts for the provision of municipal research and services to cities, towns and counties. The activities, programs and services of the Council are carried on in cooperation with the Association of Washington Cities and the Washington State Association of Counties.
The Council is composed of 23 members. Four members are appointed from the Senate, two from each major caucus; four members are appointed from the House of Representatives, two from each major caucus; one member is appointed by the Governor independently; nine members, who are city or town officials, are appointed by the Governor from a list of nine nominees submitted by the Association of Washington Cities; and five members, who are county officials, are appointed by the Governor, two of whom from a list of two nominees submitted by the Washington Association of County Officials, and three of whom from a list of three nominees submitted by the Washington State Association of Counties.
Requests for legal services by county officials to the Council must be sent to the office of prosecuting attorney and the responses to those requests must be provided to the requesting official and the county prosecuting attorney.
Summary of Bill: The composition of the Municipal Research Council is decreased from 23 members to 14 members: legislative membership consists of four members, two from the Senate (one from each major caucus) and two from the House of Representatives (one from each major caucus); city membership consists of six city or town officials; county membership consists of three county officials (one representing county officials and two representing county commissioners). The Director of Community, Trade, and Economic Development is added to the Council.
The requirements that requests for legal services by county officials and the responses to those requests must be sent to the county prosecuting attorney are eliminated.
There is an effective date of June 1, 2001.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect on June 1, 2001.
Testimony For: The Council is too large. Attendance is not good, therefore, it is very difficult to achieve a quorum to conduct business.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Stan Finkelstein, AWC (pro); Bill Vogler, WSAC.
House Amendment(s): The requirement for the Municipal Research Council to submit requests for legal services and responses to these requests to county prosecuting attorneys= offices is reinstated.