BILL REQ. #:  H-4728.1 

Read first time 01/28/10.   Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources.

     AN ACT Relating to the appointment of regional directors at the department of fish and wildlife; and amending RCW 77.04.080.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 77.04.080 and 2000 c 107 s 205 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1)(a) Persons eligible for appointment as director shall have practical knowledge of the habits and distribution of fish and wildlife. The director shall supervise the administration and operation of the department and perform the duties prescribed by law and delegated by the commission. The director shall carry out the basic goals and objectives prescribed under RCW 77.04.055. The director may, consistent with this section, appoint and employ necessary personnel. The director may delegate, in writing, to department personnel the duties and powers necessary for efficient operation and administration of the department.
     (b) Only persons having general knowledge of the fisheries and wildlife resources and of the commercial and recreational fishing industry in this state are eligible for appointment as director. The director shall not have a financial interest in the fishing industry or a directly related industry. The director shall receive the salary fixed by the governor under RCW 43.03.040.
     (c) The director is the ex officio secretary of the commission and shall attend its meetings and keep a record of its business.
     (2)(a) Prior to appointing or employing an individual as the regional director of a departmental suboffice, the department's director must ensure that the candidate is fully vetted with the local community.
     (b) Full local vetting may only be assured if the regional director candidate has met with, or at least shown a good faith attempt to meet with, the following prior to the candidate's appointment:
     (i) Each member of the state house of representatives whose legislative district includes geographic areas included in the applicable departmental region;
     (ii) Each member of the state senate whose legislative district includes geographic areas included in the applicable departmental region; and
     (iii) Each member of the county legislative authorities for every county included in the applicable departmental region's geographic area.
     (c) If any one of the county legislative authorities votes, as a body, in the majority to express nonconfidence in the regional director candidate prior to the candidate's permanent appointment, the department director must suspend that person's candidacy. Once a person has his or her candidacy suspended under this section, he or she may not be reconsidered for a regional director position for any geographic area that contains the county or counties expressing nonconfidence for a period of thirty-six months.
     (d) This subsection applies to permanent appointments. A person may serve as an interim regional director for up to three months prior to satisfying the requirements of this section.