S-3437.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6297

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington   57th Legislature        2002 Regular Session

By Senators Kline, Johnson and Fairley

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

Requiring members of the district and municipal court judges' association to pay dues.

    AN ACT Relating to the payment of dues by members of the district and municipal court judges' association; and amending RCW 3.70.010, 3.70.020, and 3.70.030.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 3.70.010 and 1994 c 32 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

    There is established in the state an association, to be known as the Washington state district and municipal court judges' association, membership in which shall include all duly elected or appointed and qualified judges of courts of limited jurisdiction, including but not limited to district judges and municipal court judges.  Only those members that have paid dues, as from time to time may be set by the association, are members in good standing and eligible to vote on association business and hold office in the association.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 3.70.020 and 1994 c 32 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

    Members, in good standing under RCW 3.70.010, of the Washington state district and municipal court judges' association may either amend the present bylaws of the association, adopt a constitution, or provide for bylaws only, electing officers as provided therein and doing all things necessary and proper to formally establish a permanent Washington state district and municipal court judges' association, including but not limited to determining the amount of dues to be paid by each member and establishing such other requirements of each member to be considered a member in good standing of the association.  The association may meet each year at a time established by the association's governing board.  Meetings shall be held in the state of Washington.

    Sec. 3.  RCW 3.70.030 and 1984 c 258 s 52 are each amended to read as follows:

    For attendance at the annual meetings of the association, beginning in 1962 and thereafter, a judge of a court of limited jurisdiction shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for judge's reasonable travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 from the county or city responsible for the operating costs of the court over which he or she presides while attending meetings of the association.  The per diem and transportation or mileage allowance authorized by this section shall not be paid to any judge for more than five days in any one calendar year.  The dues set by the association may be paid from the general funds of the county or city responsible for payment of the operating costs of the court of limited jurisdiction.

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