Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Local Government & Housing Committee

HB 1578

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Requires that vacancies on air pollution control authority boards be filled by the same method as the original appointment; and
Requires a county auditor to solicit nominations from city selection committee members prior to initiating a mail-in ballot process to appoint a board member.

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 relating to the prevention and control of air pollution. Each of Washington's 39 counties has an authority. However, some authorities are inactive.

A board of directors governs each authority. The method of designating board members varies according to the number of counties comprising the authority and the populations within each county. A board member is designated by a board of county commissioners, a city, a city selection committee, or the board. State law does not specify a procedure for filling mid-term vacancies on the board.

Each county within the jurisdiction of an authority has a city selection committee. With the exception of the mayor of the city with the greatest population in the county, the mayors of each city and town in the county sit on the committee.

The committee may choose an appointee to the board in a meeting, or through a mail-in ballot procedure administered by the county auditor. State law does not specify any method for designating candidates for the mail-in ballot procedure.

Summary of Bill:

Vacancies on air pollution control boards that occur mid-term must be filled using the same method as the original appointment. However, city selection committees are exempted from this requirement; they may opt to fill a vacancy in a meeting or via mail-in ballot.

If a city selection committee is to appoint a board member via mail-in ballot, the county auditor is required to solicit nominations from committee members prior to initiating the mail-in ballot process.