HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 315

BYRepresentatives Grimm and Miller;by request of Office of Financial Management

Making a supplemental appropriation for the citizens' commission on salaries for elected officials.

House Committe on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:     Do pass.  (15)

     Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Allen, Belcher, Brekke, Bristow, Ebersole, Grant, Hine, McLean, McMullen, Nealey, Peery, Sayan, H. Sommers and Sprenkle.

Minority Report:     Do not pass.  (1)

     Signed by Representative Fuhrman.

House Staff:Randy Acker (786-7153)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 11, 1987

BACKGROUND:

During the 1986 legislative session, ESHB 1331 and SHJR 49, creating the Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials, were enacted.  SHJR 49 was subsequently approved by the voters in the November, 1986 general election.  Both laws took effect on January 1, 1987.

The commission is required to study the relationship of salaries to the duties of legislators, executive branch elected officials, and judges of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Superior Courts, and District Courts, and fix the salary for each of those positions.  The salaries established by the commission are to be filed with the secretary of state by the first Monday in June 1987, and biennially thereafter.  The schedule of salaries becomes effective 90 days after it is filed.  The sole process for making changes in the salaries of elected officials is by referendum petition by the people.

The commission, which consists of 15 members is expected to begin meeting in February 1987.

SUMMARY:

One hundred twenty-seven thousand dollars ($127,000) is appropriated from the General Fund - State to the Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials.  The act takes effect immediately.

Appropriation:  $127,000 to the Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials.

Fiscal Note:    Attached.

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     None Presented.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.