H-3674              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1542

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By Representatives Sayan, Ballard, Grimm, O'Brien, Wineberry, Patrick, Heavey and Winsley

Read first time 1/20/88 and referred to Committee on State Government.

AN ACT Relating to establishing a senior legislature; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature recognizes that the senior citizens who reside in the state of Washington have concerns and problems unique to individuals in their age group.  The concerns include the serious economic difficulties which they experience due to the effects of inflation and increased living costs on their limited retirement incomes.  The legislature also recognizes that older individuals, by virtue of their vast and varied experience, possess a unique combination of abilities, knowledge, and talents which could provide invaluable assistance to the legislature in addressing the specific aging issues faced by senior citizens.  In view of the diminishing public resources which increasingly limit the state's ability to adequately respond to the diverse needs of the elderly, the legislature believes that the older population could contribute useful information and suggestions in setting priorities regarding which aging programs and services should be established or maintained.  The legislature also believes that older people, aware of the state's economic condition and knowledgeable about their own situation, deserve the opportunity to speak with a unified voice to the legislature about these issues.  Therefore, it shall be the policy of this state to provide these opportunities to the senior citizens and to the legislature by the formation of a senior legislature.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     (1) A 1988 senior legislature is created, which shall be convened prior to the fifty-first legislature in 1989.  The senior legislature shall consist of persons elected as delegates from all areas of Washington to represent their peers in model legislative sessions in the state capitol building.  The sessions may be held in the chambers of the house of representatives or the senate in the state capitol building.  The sessions shall be scheduled to allow sufficient time for transmittal of the legislation passed by the senior legislature to Washington legislators for consideration prior to the 1989 session of the Washington legislature.

          (2) The delegates to the senior legislature shall propose and debate legislation which affects the lives of elderly residents of Washington.  They shall then select, among those bills passed, the legislation which is of the greatest priority to them.  A report of the proceedings of the senior legislature, including all legislation passed and the listing of the priority legislation, shall be presented to the Washington legislature and to the governor for review by the governor's senior advisory committee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The department of social and health services, through its area agencies on aging, together with recognized senior organizations, shall develop and coordinate activities necessary to carry out the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     There shall be forty-nine delegates to the senior legislature.  One delegate shall be elected from each legislative district.  Election of the delegates shall be coordinated by the department of social and health services through its area agencies on aging.  Only those persons over sixty years of age who are registered voters in the area where the election will occur may vote.  Delegates shall be sixty years of age or older, registered voters, and residents of Washington.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     The department of social and health services may receive such gifts, grants, or endowments from public or private sources as may be made from time to time, in trust or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the purposes of the senior legislature and expend the same or any income therefrom according to the terms of the gift, grant, or endowment.

          The funds received may be expended to finance the reasonable and necessary subsistence and lodging expenses of those delegates who are unable to afford the expense of attending the senior legislature.  The department of social and health services shall set guidelines for the determination of the ability to pay of those delegates who request financial assistance.