BILL REQ. #:  H-1116.1 

Read first time 02/09/2007.   Referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs.

     AN ACT Relating to governing body membership under the open public meetings act; amending RCW 42.30.020; and adding a new section to chapter 42.30 RCW.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 42.30.020 and 1985 c 366 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     As used in this chapter unless the context indicates otherwise:
     (1) "Public agency" means:
     (a) Any state board, commission, committee, department, educational institution, or other state agency which is created by or pursuant to statute, other than courts and the legislature;
     (b) Any county, city, school district, special purpose district, or other municipal corporation or political subdivision of the state of Washington;
     (c) Any subagency of a public agency which is created by or pursuant to statute, ordinance, or other legislative act, including but not limited to planning commissions, library or park boards, commissions, and agencies;
     (d) Any policy group whose membership includes representatives of publicly owned utilities formed by or pursuant to the laws of this state when meeting together as or on behalf of participants who have contracted for the output of generating plants being planned or built by an operating agency.
     (2) "Governing body" means the multimember board, commission, committee, council, or other policy or rule-making body of a public agency, or any committee thereof when the committee acts on behalf of the governing body, conducts hearings, or takes testimony or public comment.
     (3) "Action" means the transaction of the official business of a public agency by a governing body including but not limited to receipt of public testimony, deliberations, discussions, considerations, reviews, evaluations, and final actions. "Final action" means a collective positive or negative decision, or an actual vote by a majority of the members of a governing body when sitting as a body or entity, upon a motion, proposal, resolution, order, or ordinance.
     (4) "Meeting" means ((meetings at which action is taken)) a gathering of a majority of the members of a governing body where they convene in person, by telephone, or by electronic means to hear, deliberate, or take action on the business or affairs of the agency or body. Electronic or telephone meetings are subject to the notice requirements of this chapter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 42.30 RCW to read as follows:
     Any person who has been elected to serve as a member of a governing body is subject to the requirements of this chapter from the time of election.