BILL REQ. #:  S-1850.2 

Read first time 02/26/2003.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

     AN ACT Relating to bar association membership fees for legislative attorneys; amending RCW 2.48.130 and 2.48.140 and adding a new section to chapter 2.48 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 2.48 RCW to read as follows:
     An active or inactive member of the bar is not required to pay the annual membership fee for active or inactive members during any period of time that the member is employed as a full-time employee by the Washington state senate, the Washington state house of representatives, or the statute law committee.
     The board of governors may not provide for any additional qualifications, requirements, or procedures for legislative attorneys who are covered by this section beyond those imposed on other active or inactive members, except that the board may provide by rule for prorating the annual membership fees for partial years of employment with the legislative agencies named in this section.

Sec. 2   RCW 2.48.130 and 1957 c 138 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     The annual membership fees for active members shall be payable on or before February 1st of each year. Subject to section 1 of this act, the board of governors may establish the amount of such annual membership fee to be effective each year: PROVIDED, That written notice of any proposed increase in membership fee shall be sent to active members not less than sixty days prior to the effective date of such increase: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the board of governors may establish the fee at a reduced rate for those who have been active members for less than five years in this state or elsewhere.

Sec. 3   RCW 2.48.140 and 1955 c 34 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     Subject to section 1 of this act, the annual membership fee for inactive members shall be the sum of two dollars, payable on or before the first day of February of each year.