H-395                _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1319

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Ebersole, Locke, Wang, Winsley, R. King, Pruitt, Appelwick and Jacobsen

Read first time 1/20/89 and referred to Committee on State Government.

AN ACT Relating to the legislature and terms of state officials and members of the legislature; amending RCW 44.04.010 and 43.01.010; and adding new sections to chapter 44.04 RCW.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 1, chapter 20, Laws of 1891 as last amended by section 27, chapter 87, Laws of 1980 and RCW 44.04.010 are each amended to read as follows:

          Regular sessions of the legislature shall be held annually, commencing on the second Monday of February in each odd-numbered year and on the second Monday of January in each even-numbered year.

        Sec. 2.  Section 43.01.010, chapter 8, Laws of 1965 and RCW 43.01.010 are each amended to read as follows:

          The governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, commissioner of public lands, and insurance commissioner, shall hold office for the term of four years, and until their successors are elected and qualified; and the term shall commence on the ((Wednesday after the)) second Monday of January following their election.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 44.04 RCW to read as follows:

          Members of the legislature shall hold office for the terms provided in Article II of the state Constitution; and the term shall commence on the second Monday of January following their election.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 44.04 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) On the second Monday of January of each odd-numbered year, the legislature shall meet for the following purposes:

          (a) To canvass the votes for elected state officers as provided in Article III, section 4 of the state Constitution;

          (b) To judge the election, returns, and qualifications of its members as provided in Article II, section 8 of the state Constitution; and

          (c) To administer the oath of office of such state officers and members of the legislature.

          (2) The legislature may also elect its officers and adopt rules of procedure at such meeting, but it shall conduct no other business unless convened in regular or special session pursuant to Article II, section 12 of the state Constitution.