S-3049.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6245

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington   57th Legislature        2002 Regular Session

By Senators McAuliffe and Carlson

Read first time 01/14/2002.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Changing procedures for appointments to the academic achievement and accountability commission.

    AN ACT Relating to appointments to the academic achievement and accountability commission made beginning June 30, 2002; and amending RCW 28A.655.020.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 28A.655.020 and 1999 c 388 s 101 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) The academic achievement and accountability commission is established.

    (2) The primary purpose of the commission is to provide oversight of the state's educational accountability system.

    (3) The commission shall consist of nine members selected as follows:

    (a) One member shall be the superintendent of public instruction or the superintendent's designee; and

    (b)(i) Eight members shall be appointed by the governor.  All members appointed by the governor are subject to confirmation by the senate.

(ii) For members appointed before June 30, 2002, four of the members shall be selected as follows:  Each major caucus of the house of representatives and the senate shall submit a list of three names.  The lists may not include the names of members of the legislature.  The governor shall select a member from each list provided by each caucus.  ((All members appointed by the governor shall be subject to confirmation by the senate.)) The provisions of this subsection (3)(b)(ii) shall not be used for appointments made on or after June 30, 2002.

    (4) The governor shall appoint a chair from among the commission members.

    (5) Appointees shall be individuals who are supportive of educational improvement, who have a positive record of service, and who will devote sufficient time to the responsibilities of the commission to ensure that the objectives of the commission are achieved.  The commission shall be composed of a balance of individuals from within and outside the public education system.  The commission shall include educators, business leaders, and parents.

    (6) The governor shall appoint its initial commission members by July 1, 1999.  The first meeting of the commission shall be convened by the superintendent of public instruction no later than July 30, 1999.

    (7) Appointed members shall serve for terms of four years, with the terms expiring on June 30th of the fourth year of the term.  However, in the case of the initial members, four members shall serve four-year terms, two members shall serve three-year terms, and two members shall serve two-year terms, with each of the terms expiring on June 30th of the applicable year.  Appointees may be reappointed to serve more than one term.

    (8) The governor shall fill any vacancy in appointments that may occur.  When filling a vacancy of a member nominated by a major caucus of the legislature, the governor shall select the new member from a list of three names submitted by the same caucus that provided the list from which the retiring member was appointed.

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