S-1161.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5635

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Senator Benton

Read first time 01/29/2001.  Referred to Committee on State & Local Government.

Allowing county chairs to vote at political party state committee meetings.

    AN ACT Relating to allowing county chairs to vote at political party state committee meetings; and amending RCW 29.42.020.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 29.42.020 and 1987 c 295 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:

    The state committee of each major political party shall consist of one committeeman ((and)), one committeewoman, and the chairman from each county elected by the county committee at its organization meeting.  It shall have a chair and vice-chair who must be of opposite sexes.  This committee shall meet during January of each odd-numbered year for the purpose of organization at a time and place designated by a sufficient notice to all the newly elected state committeemen ((and)), committeewomen, and chairmen by the authorized officers of the retiring committee.  For the purpose of this section a notice mailed at least one week prior to the date of the meeting shall constitute sufficient notice.  At its organizational meeting it shall elect its chair and vice-chair, and such officers as its bylaws may provide, and adopt bylaws, rules and regulations.  It shall have power to:

    (1) Call conventions at such time and place and under such circumstances and for such purposes as the call to convention shall designate.  The manner, number and procedure for selection of state convention delegates shall be subject to the committee's rules and regulations duly adopted;

    (2) Provide for the election of delegates to national conventions;

    (3) Fill vacancies on the ticket for any federal or state office to be voted on by the electors of more than one county;

    (4) Provide for the nomination of presidential electors; and

    (5) Perform all functions inherent in such an organization.

    Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, the committee shall not set rules which shall govern the conduct of the actual proceedings at a party state convention.

                            --- END ---