[atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to statutory committees of the legislature; amending RCW 44.28.060, 44.28.065, 44.44.030, 44.48.050, 44.48.090, 44.48.120, 44.68.040, and 44.68.050; adding a new section to chapter 44.04 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 44.28 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 44.44 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 44.48 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 44.68 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 44.04 RCW to read as follows:

The joint legislative audit and review committee, the joint committee on pension policy, the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee, and the joint legislative systems committee are subject to such operational policies, procedures, and oversight as are deemed necessary by the facilities and operations committee of the senate and the executive rules committee of the house of representatives to ensure operational consistency among the agencies of the legislative branch. As used in this section, "operational policies, procedures, and oversight" includes the development of biennial budgets, personnel policies and compensation plans, selection of a chief administrator, facilities, contracts, and expenditures.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 44.28 RCW to read as follows:

The administration of the joint legislative audit and review committee is subject to section 1 of this act.

Sec. 3. RCW 44.28.060 and 1996 c 288 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

The members of the joint committee shall form an executive committee consisting of one member from each of the four major political caucuses, which shall include a chair and a vice-chair. The chair and vice-chair shall serve for a period not to exceed two years. The chair and the vice-chair may not be members of the same political party. The chair shall alternate between the members of the majority parties in the senate and the house of representatives.

Subject to section 1 of this act, the executive committee is responsible for performing all general administrative and personnel duties assigned to it in the rules and procedures adopted by the joint committee, as well as other duties delegated to it by the joint committee. The executive committee shall recommend applicants for the position of the legislative auditor to the membership of the joint committee. The legislative auditor shall be hired with the approval of a majority of the membership of the joint committee. Subject to section 1 of this act, the executive committee shall set the salary of the legislative auditor.

The joint committee shall adopt rules and procedures for its orderly operation. The joint committee may create subcommittees to perform duties under this chapter.

Sec. 4. RCW 44.28.065 and 1996 c 288 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:

The legislative auditor shall:

(1) Establish and manage the office of the joint legislative audit and review committee to carry out the functions of this chapter;

(2) Direct the audit and review functions described in this chapter and ensure that performance audits are performed in accordance with the "Government Auditing Standards" published by the comptroller general of the United States as applicable to the scope of the audit;

(3) Make findings and recommendations to the joint committee and under its direction to the committees of the state legislature concerning the organization and operation of state agencies and the expenditure of state funds by units of local government;

(4) Subject to section 1 of this act, in consultation with and with the approval of the executive committee, hire staff necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. Subject to section 1 of this act, employee salaries, other than the legislative auditor, shall be set by the legislative auditor with the approval of the executive committee;

(5) Assist the several standing committees of the house and senate in consideration of legislation affecting state departments and their efficiency; appear before other legislative committees; and assist any other legislative committee upon instruction by the joint legislative audit and review committee;

(6) Provide the legislature with information obtained under the direction of the joint legislative audit and review committee;

(7) Maintain a record of all work performed by the legislative auditor under the direction of the joint legislative audit and review committee and keep and make available all documents, data, and reports submitted to the legislative auditor by any legislative committee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 44.44 RCW to read as follows:

The administration of the joint committee on pension policy is subject to section 1 of this act.

Sec. 6. RCW 44.44.030 and 1987 c 25 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Subject to section 1 of this act, the state actuary shall have the authority to select and employ such research, technical, clerical personnel, and consultants as the actuary deems necessary, whose salaries shall be fixed by the actuary and approved by the joint committee on pension policy, and who shall be exempt from the provisions of the state civil service law, chapter 41.06 RCW.

(2) All actuarial valuations and experience studies performed by the office of the state actuary shall be signed by a member of the American academy of actuaries. If the state actuary is not such a member, the state actuary, after approval by the committee, shall contract for a period not to exceed two years with a member of the American academy of actuaries to assist in developing actuarial valuations and experience studies.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. A new section is added to chapter 44.48 RCW to read as follows:

The administration of the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee is subject to section 1 of this act.

Sec. 8. RCW 44.48.050 and 1977 ex.s. c 373 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

Subject to section 1 of this act, all expenses incurred by the committee, including salaries and expenses of employees, shall be paid upon voucher forms as provided by the administrator and signed by the chairman or vice chairman of the committee and attested by the secretary of said committee, and the authority of said chairman and secretary to sign vouchers shall continue until their successors are selected after each ensuing session of the legislature. Vouchers may be drawn on funds appropriated by law for the committee: PROVIDED, That the senate and the house may authorize the committee to draw on funds appropriated by the legislature for legislative expenses.

Sec. 9. RCW 44.48.090 and 1979 c 151 s 158 are each amended to read as follows:

The committee shall have the following powers:

(1) To have timely access, upon written request of the administrator, to all machine readable, printed, and other data of state agencies relative to expenditures, budgets, and related fiscal matters;

(2) To suggest changes relative to state accounting and reporting systems to the office of financial management or its successor and to require timely written responses to such suggestions; and

(3) Subject to section 1 of this act, to enter into contracts; and when entering into any contract for computer access, make necessary provisions relative to the scheduling of computer time and usage in recognition of the unique requirements and priorities of the legislative process.

Sec. 10. RCW 44.48.120 and 1977 ex.s. c 373 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:

The committee is hereby authorized and empowered to appoint an officer to be known as the LEAP administrator who shall be the executive officer of the committee and assist in its duties and shall compile information for the committee.

Subject to section 1 of this act, the committee is hereby authorized and empowered to select and employ temporary and permanent personnel and fix their salaries.

The duties of the administrator shall be as follows:

(1) To manage the LEAP operations.

(2) To assist the several standing committees of the house and senate; to appear before other legislative committees; and to assist any other legislative committee upon instruction by the committee.

(3) To provide the legislature with information obtained under the direction of the committee.

(4) To maintain a record of all work performed by the administrator under the direction of the committee and to keep and make available all documents, data, and reports submitted to the administrator by any legislative committee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. A new section is added to chapter 44.68 RCW to read as follows:

The administration of the joint legislative systems committee is subject to section 1 of this act.

Sec. 12. RCW 44.68.040 and 1986 c 61 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

Subject to section 1 of this act:

(1) The systems committee, after consultation with the administrative committee, shall employ a legislative systems coordinator. The coordinator shall serve at the pleasure of the systems committee, which shall fix the coordinator's salary.

(2) The coordinator shall serve as the executive and administrative head of the center, and shall assist the administrative committee in managing the information processing and communications systems of the legislature as directed by the administrative committee.

Sec. 13. RCW 44.68.050 and 1986 c 61 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

The administrative committee shall, subject to the approval of the systems committee and subject to section 1 of this act:

(1) Adopt policies, procedures, and standards regarding the information processing and communications systems of the legislature;

(2) Establish appropriate charges for services, equipment, and publications provided by the legislative information processing and communications systems, applicable to legislative and nonlegislative users as determined by the administrative committee;

(3) Employ or engage and fix the compensation for personnel required to carry out the purposes of this chapter;

(4) Enter into contracts for (a) the sale, exchange, or acquisition of equipment, supplies, services, and facilities required to carry out the purposes of this chapter and (b) the distribution of legislative information;

(5) Generally assist the systems committee in carrying out its responsibilities under this chapter, as directed by the systems committee.