BILL REQ. #:  S-4395.1 

Read first time 02/11/14.   Referred to Committee on Governmental Operations.

     AN ACT Relating to notice of legislative committee hearings; and adding a new section to chapter 44.04 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 44.04 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) At least five days' notice must be given of all public hearings held by any legislative committee other than a committee on rules. The notice must contain the date, time, and place of the hearing together with the title and number of each bill, or identification of the subject matter, to be considered at the hearing. By a majority vote of the committee members present at any committee meeting, the notice may be dispensed with. The reason for the action must be set forth in a written statement preserved in the records of the meeting.
     (2) No legislative committee may hold a public hearing during a regular or special session on a proposal identified as a draft unless the draft has been made available to the public at least twenty-four hours before the hearing. This rule does not apply during the five days before any cutoff established by concurrent resolution nor does it apply to any measure exempted from the cutoff resolution.