BILL REQ. #:  S-1032.1 

Read first time 02/04/11.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

     AN ACT Relating to Washington State Bar Association dues for public agency attorneys; amending RCW 2.48.130; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that public service law is a benefit to both state and local communities. In order to promote its practice it is important to make such a career affordable for those individuals who are employed in public service and the governmental entities that seek to employ them. Therefore, the legislature intends that public agency attorneys shall be exempt from paying bar dues during their periods of government service.

Sec. 2   RCW 2.48.130 and 1957 c 138 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The annual membership fees for active members shall be payable on or before February 1st of each year. Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, 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.
     (2) The membership fee shall be waived for active members employed by a public agency. For purposes of this section, "public agency" means any agency of the state government, or any agency, political subdivision, or unit of local government of this state including, but not limited to, municipal corporations, quasi-municipal corporations, special purpose districts, and local service districts.