H-2958              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2243

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                        1989 First Special Session

By Representatives H. Sommers and Ferguson

Read first time 5/9/89.

AN ACT Relating to the term of appointment for the director of the department of personnel; and amending RCW 41.06.130.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 13, chapter 1, Laws of 1961 as amended by section 3, chapter 53, Laws of 1982 1st ex. sess. and RCW 41.06.130 are each amended to read as follows:

          The office of director of personnel is hereby established.

          (1) Within ninety days after December 8, 1960, a director of personnel shall be appointed.  The merit system director then serving under RCW 50.12.030, whose position is terminated by this chapter, may serve as director of personnel hereunder until a permanent director of personnel is appointed as herein provided, and may be appointed as director of personnel by the governor alone; or the governor may fill the position in the manner hereinafter provided for subsequent vacancies therein on the basis of competitive examination, in conformance with board rules for competitive examinations, for which examinations the merit system director is eligible.

          (2) The director of personnel shall be appointed for a term of six years by the governor from a list of three names submitted to him by the board with its recommendations.  The names on such list shall be those of the three standing highest upon competitive examination conducted by a committee of three persons appointed by the board solely for that purpose whenever the position is vacant.  Only persons with substantial experience in the field of personnel management are eligible to take such examination.

          (3) The director of personnel is removable for cause by the governor with the approval of a majority of the board or by a majority of the board.

          (4) The director of personnel shall direct and supervise all the department of personnel's administrative and technical activities in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations approved and promulgated thereunder.  He shall prepare for consideration by the board proposed rules and regulations required by this chapter.  His salary shall be fixed by the board.

          (5) The director of personnel may delegate to any agency the authority to perform administrative and technical personnel activities if the agency requests such authority and the director of personnel is satisfied that the agency has the personnel management capabilities to effectively perform the delegated activities.  The director of personnel shall prescribe standards and guidelines for the performance of delegated activities.  If the director of personnel determines that an agency is not performing delegated activities within the prescribed standards and guidelines, the director shall withdraw the authority from the agency to perform such activities.