AN ACT Relating to an advisory committee on landlord-tenant issues; adding a new chapter to Title 59 RCW; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that both landlords and tenants have concerns and problems with the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act and with the Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act. Tenants generally believe that there are not sufficient remedies to induce landlords to comply with present law. Landlords generally believe that unlawful detainer provisions that must be used to evict tenants are too costly, too slow, and too complicated. The legislature also finds that there are outdated and unclear sections that should be updated or clarified.

The legislature further finds that a stable rental market is an important part of the legislature's goal of encouraging stable and adequate housing for the people of this state. In order to foster a better relationship between landlords and tenants, and to encourage involvement by all affected parties in developing recommendations for improving current law, the legislature believes that an advisory committee should be formed to review current law and make recommendations to the legislature.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. As used in this chapter:

(1) "Committee" means the Washington landlord-tenant review and advisory committee.

(2) "Legislative staff" means the staff of the house of representatives housing and judiciary committees and the staff of the senate economic development and labor and the law and justice committees.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. There is established the Washington landlord-tenant review and advisory committee, which shall consist of the following members:

(1) One member each from the majority and the minority parties of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate;

(2) One member each of the majority and the minority parties of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker;

(3) Three representatives of residential landlords, one of which will be from the Washington apartment association;

(4) Three representatives of residential tenants, one of which will be from evergreen legal services;

(5) Two representatives of mobile home park owners, one of which will be from the Washington mobile home park owners association;

(6) Two representatives of mobile home park tenants, one of which will be from the Washington mobile home owners of America;

(7) One retired superior court judge who shall chair the committee;

(8) One representative of realtors;

(9) One representative of the Washington state bar association;

(10) One representative of the department of community development; and

(11) One representative of local housing authorities.

The governor shall appoint all nonlegislative members of the committee within thirty days from the effective date of this section. Staffing shall be provided by legislative staff. The committee shall meet at such time as it is called by the governor or the chairperson of the committee. Members of the committee shall receive no compensation but may be reimbursed for travel expenses under RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 or 44.04.120.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The committee shall:

(1) Review chapters 59.18 and 59.20 RCW, and unlawful detainer provisions as they relate to these two chapters, focusing on the duties and obligations of landlords and tenants and the remedies available to each;

(2) Make suggestions and recommendations for improvements to chapters 59.18 and 59.20 RCW and to unlawful detainer provisions as they relate to these two chapters, including the consideration of mandatory arbitration and mediation;

(3) Take any other action related to carrying out this chapter; and

(4) Provide a written report to the house of representatives housing and judiciary committees and the senate economic development and labor and the law and justice committees by January 1, 1989, presenting agreed committee findings and recommendations and listing areas of disagreement.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This chapter shall expire on July 1, 1989.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Sections 1 through 4 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 59 RCW.