BILL REQ. #:  H-4328.1 

Read first time 01/26/2004.   Referred to Committee on State Government.

     AN ACT Relating to establishing priorities of government; adding new sections to chapter 43.41 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 44.04 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 2.04 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:
     (1) The Washington economy of the future can provide unparalleled opportunity while maintaining Washington's traditional values if this state pursues the future with clarity of purpose and perseverance.
     (2) A priorities of government board is needed to (a) encourage the discussion and understanding of critical global, national, and state economic trends that will affect the Washington economy in the coming decades; (b) formulate and submit to Washingtonians a strategy that describes and explains a vision for Washington's economic progress over the next twenty to thirty years; and (c) submit to the legislature, for enactment, goals for Washington's progress, including measurable indicators of the achievement of those goals, as provided for in section 3 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.41 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The priorities of government board is created, consisting of the governor, nine members appointed by the governor, and the director of financial management, who shall be a nonvoting ex officio member.
     (2)(a) Of the initial appointed members, four shall serve for terms ending January 31, 2006, and five shall serve for terms ending January 31, 2008. Except for initial appointments, the terms of appointed members shall be four years. Members may be reappointed.
     (b)(i) Members of the board shall be representative of the ethnic, cultural, social, and economic diversity of the people of Washington.
     (ii) Five of the appointed members of the board shall be residents of different congressional districts in the state.
     (3) The governor shall serve as chair of the board and may appoint an executive officer for the board for a term and with such duties and powers as the board determines to be necessary or appropriate.
     (4) A majority of the members of the board constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
     (5) The board shall meet as the board determines necessary at times and places specified by call of the chair or a majority of the members of the board.
     (6) The office of financial management shall provide lead staff support to the board. Additional staff support shall be provided by the other public members of the board.
     (7) The members of the board shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Members of the board who are not otherwise employed by the state shall be compensated under RCW 43.03.220.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 43.41 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The priorities of government board shall develop a strategy that addresses the economic, social, cultural, environmental, and other needs and aspirations of the people of Washington. The strategy shall address priorities that the board determines are necessary and appropriate to Washington's future. Such priorities shall include:
     (a) Improve student achievement in elementary, middle, and high schools;
     (b) Improve the quality and productivity of the state's work force;
     (c) Improve the value of a state college or university education;
     (d) Improve the health of the state's citizens;
     (e) Improve the security of the state's vulnerable children and adults;
     (f) Improve the economic vitality of businesses and individuals;
     (g) Improve statewide mobility of people, goods, information, and energy;
     (h) Improve the safety of people and property;
     (i) Improve the quality of the state's natural resources;
     (j) Improve cultural and recreational opportunities throughout the state; and
     (k) Improve the ability of state government to achieve its results efficiently and effectively.
     (2) When developing the strategy, the board shall hold public hearings, public meetings, and workshops as needed to ensure the participation of a broad cross-section of Washington's population. The board shall publicize the public hearings, public meetings, and workshops in each city in which they are held and shall allow interested residents and other individuals to appear and be heard by the board.
     (3) After considering any written comments and public testimony relating to the proposed strategy, the board shall revise the strategy as it considers necessary or appropriate. The board, by a vote of a majority of its members, shall approve and adopt a final strategy. The board shall submit, in addition to its adopted strategy, a summary and digest of comments and public testimony and its response, if any, to those comments. The adopted strategy shall be submitted to the legislature not later than December 1, 2009, and every six years thereafter.
     (4) As a part of the strategy adopted under subsection (3) of this section, the board shall also adopt a recommended implementation plan. The plan shall include recommendations for statutory or other changes the board considers appropriate, modifications in public fiscal and spending policies, including the allocation of lottery revenues, and also recommendations for implementing actions to be carried out by local governments, businesses, private citizens, and other organizations.
     (5)(a) The board must, in its adopted strategy, include a series of goals for Washington's progress over the next two to three decades.
     (b) Goals shall include such measurable indicators of attainment, as the board shall determine, that show the extent to which each goal is being achieved.
     (c) Goals shall be reviewed by the legislature, which may propose legislation that enacts the goals as recommended or that modifies, deletes, or adds to the goals. Any goals enacted by the legislature shall become the goals used by the board in its subsequent activities.
     (d) After enactment, the board may recommend to the legislature such modifications to the goals as it considers appropriate.
     (6) The board shall prepare, at least once each biennium, a report that describes progress toward achievement of the board's strategy, based on the specific indicators the board adopts for measuring the attainment of strategic goals. The report shall include an analysis of issues and trends of strategic significance and shall propose an agenda that identifies key steps that Washington should take over the following two years to build for Washington's future. In developing the report required by this section, the board shall consider the criteria in this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 44.04 RCW to read as follows:
     Each major caucus in the senate and each major caucus in the house of representatives is encouraged to establish its priorities of government.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   A new section is added to chapter 2.04 RCW to read as follows:
     The supreme court is encouraged to establish its priorities of government.