AN ACT Relating to
statutory committees of the legislature; amending RCW 44.28.060, 44.28.065,
44.40.015, 44.40.040, 44.40.090, 44.40.100, 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
44.40 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 legislative transportation 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 adequacy of the
agencies of the legislative branch. As used in this section, "operational
policies, procedures, and oversight" includes the development process of
biennial budgets, contracting procedures, personnel policies, and compensation
plans, selection of a chief administrator, facilities, and expenditures. This
section does not grant oversight authority to the facilities and operations
committee of the senate over any standing committee of the house of
representatives or oversight authority to the executive rules committee of the
house of representatives over any standing committee of the senate.
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 44.40 RCW to read as follows:
The administration of
the legislative transportation committee is subject to section 1 of this act.
Sec. 6. RCW 44.40.015 and 1999
sp.s. c 1 s 617 are each amended 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.
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 committee, determining the number of legislative
transportation committee staff, and other duties delegated to it by the
committee. Except when those responsibilities are assumed by the legislative
transportation committee, and subject to section 1 of this act, the
executive committee is responsible for adopting interim work plans and meeting
schedules, approving all contracts signed on behalf of the committee, and
setting policies for legislative transportation ((commitee [committee]))
committee staff utilization.
Sec. 7. RCW 44.40.040 and 1979 c
151 s 157 are each amended to read as follows:
The
members of the legislative transportation committee and the house and senate
transportation committees shall receive allowances while attending meetings of
the committees or subcommittees and while engaged in other authorized business
of the committees as provided in RCW 44.04.120 ((as now or hereafter amended)).
Subject to section 1 of this act, all expenses incurred by the
committee, and the house and senate transportation committees, including
salaries of employees of the legislative transportation committee, shall be
paid upon voucher forms as provided by the office of financial management and
signed by the chairman or vice chairman or authorized designee of the chairman
of the committee, and the authority of said chairman or vice chairman to sign
vouchers shall continue until their successors are selected. Vouchers may be
drawn upon funds appropriated for the expenses of the committee.
Sec. 8. RCW 44.40.090 and 1977
ex.s. c 235 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
Subject to section 1
of this act, powers and duties enumerated by this chapter shall be
delegated to the senate and house transportation committees during periods when
the legislative transportation committee is not appointed.
Sec. 9. RCW 44.40.100 and 1977
ex.s. c 235 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
Subject to section 1
of this act, the legislative transportation committee ((and/or)) and
the senate and house transportation committees may enter into contracts on
behalf of the state to carry out the purposes of this chapter ((44.40
RCW as amended)); and it or they may act for the state in the initiation of
or participation in any multigovernmental program relative to transportation
planning or programming; and it or they may enter into contracts to receive
federal or other funds, grants, or gifts to carry out said purposes and to be
used in preference to or in combination with state funds. When federal or
other funds are received, they shall be deposited with the state treasurer and
thereafter expended only upon approval by the committee or committees.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
10. 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. 11. 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.
12. 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. 13. 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. 14. 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. 15. 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.
16. 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. 17. 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. 18. 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.
