Brief Description: Regarding air pollution control authority boards.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Water, Energy & Environment (originally sponsored by Senator Brown).

Hearing Date: 2/20/06

Staff: Kasa Tupua (786-7291).

Background:

Local air pollution control authorities (authorities) are established by the Washington Clean Air Act. Each authority is a municipal corporation that is responsible for carrying out specified duties and exercising powers pertaining to the prevention and control of air pollution. Each of Washington's 39 counties has an authority created within it. However, some county authorities are inactive and are served by the Washington Department of Ecology's Air Quality Program.

Each authority is governed by a board of directors (board). In the case of an authority comprised of one county, the board must be comprised of two appointees of a city selection committee, and two representatives designated by the board of county commissioners. If the board consists of an even number of members, the board members must elect an additional member who is either a member of the governing body of one of the towns, cities, or counties comprising the authority, or a private citizen residing in the authority. The city selection committee for each county consists of the mayor of each incorporated city and town within each applicable county.

Summary of Bill:

The provisions pertaining to air pollution control authority boards are changed in four ways.

First, a new population threshold is specified providing that the composition of a board in a county with fewer than 400,000 persons must consist of two appointees from the city selection committee, and two representatives designated by the board of county commissioners.

Second, the boards comprised of one county with a population of 400,000 or more must consist of three appointees of cities, and one representative designated by the board of county commissioners.

Third, provisions pertaining to ensuring that an odd number of members serve on boards are specified. If the boards comprised of one county with a population of 400,000 or more consist of an even number of members, then these members may elect an additional citizen member residing in the county who demonstrates professional experience in the field of public health, air quality protection, or meteorology. If the boards comprised of one or more counties with a population fewer than 400,000 consists of an even number of members, then these members may elect a member of the governing body of one of the towns, cities, or counties, or a private citizen residing in the authority.

Fourth, for single county boards, the city selection committee provisions are modified. The mayors of the cities with the most population who already designated appointees to the board may not be included as members to the city selection committee.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.