BILL REQ. #:  H-2288.1 

READ FIRST TIME 03/05/03.   

     AN ACT Relating to establishing citizen councilor groups; adding new sections to chapter 43.09 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that some people may have difficulty gaining access to the political process and that the process can be improved by providing alternative mechanisms for participation by the citizens of the state. The legislature intends to establish a self-funding pilot process by which citizens can receive information about public issues and provide input to their elected officials.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) Any person who lives or works in Washington may volunteer to act as a citizen councilor by sending a letter of application to the state auditor and paying a fee as set by the state auditor to recover the costs of the citizen councilor program.
     (2) Citizen councilors shall act collectively as advisors for the legislature. Conveners of citizen councilor groups shall be those designated by the citizen councilor coordinator or deputy citizen councilor coordinator under section 3 of this act from among citizen councilors who volunteer to host a group.
     (3) Citizen councilor groups shall:
     (a) Gather information and study issues determined to be important to the citizens of the state;
     (b) Solicit input, comments, and suggestions from citizens and groups throughout the state; and
     (c) By December 1st of each calendar year, file a written report of the groups' activities, including the subjects addressed by the group and the conclusions and collective advice from the group, with the citizen councilor coordinator.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) The positions of citizen councilor coordinator and deputy citizen councilor coordinator are created within the office of the state auditor. The state auditor shall appoint the citizen councilor coordinator and deputy citizen councilor coordinator who shall serve at the pleasure of the state auditor and shall be volunteers serving without compensation.
     (2) The citizen councilor coordinator and deputy citizen councilor coordinator shall:
     (a) Promote to the citizens of the state the citizen councilor program and its contribution to public planning processes;
     (b) Actively encourage citizen councilor groups to form throughout the state;
     (c) Appoint conveners of citizen councilor groups;
     (d) Oversee preparation, tabulation, summarization, and dissemination of data and information;
     (e) Solicit volunteers to assist in administering the program from community service, educational, civic, business, and other organizations;
     (f) Distribute informational materials to citizen councilors;
     (g) Maintain data and documents generated by citizen councilor groups in the state auditor's office; and
     (h) By January 1st of each year, forward the written reports submitted by the citizen councilor groups under section 2 of this act to the legislature.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   Sections 2 and 3 of this act are each added to chapter 43.09 RCW.