Z-1293.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6340

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington   57th Legislature        2002 Regular Session

By Senators Thibaudeau, Deccio and Winsley; by request of Insurance Commissioner

Read first time 01/16/2002.  Referred to Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care.

Allowing a designee to represent the insurance commissioner on the health care facilities authority.

    AN ACT Relating to the insurance commissioner's participation on the Washington health care facilities authority; and amending RCW 70.37.030.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 70.37.030 and 1989 1st ex.s. c 9 s 261 are each amended to read as follows:

    There is hereby established a public body corporate and politic, with perpetual corporate succession, to be known as the Washington health care facilities authority.  The authority shall constitute a political subdivision of the state established as an instrumentality exercising essential governmental functions.  The authority is a "public body" within the meaning of RCW 39.53.010((, as now or hereafter amended)).  The authority shall consist of the governor who shall serve as chairman, the lieutenant governor, the insurance commissioner, the secretary of health, and one member of the public who shall be appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the senate, on the basis of the member's interest or expertise in health care delivery, for a term expiring on the fourth anniversary of the date of appointment.  In the event that any of the offices referred to shall be abolished the resulting vacancy on the authority shall be filled by the officer who shall succeed substantially to the powers and duties thereof.  The members of the authority shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.240 and shall be entitled to reimbursement, solely from the funds of the authority, for travel expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties under this chapter, subject to the provisions of RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.  A majority shall constitute a quorum.

    The governor and the insurance commissioner each may designate an employee of ((the governor's)) his or her office to act on his or her behalf ((of the governor)) during the absence of the governor or the insurance commissioner at one or more of the meetings of the authority.  The vote of the designee shall have the same effect as if cast by the governor or the insurance commissioner if the designation is in writing and is presented to the person presiding at the meetings included within the designation.

    The governor may designate a member to preside during the governor's absence.

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