S-1622               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5931

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators von Reichbauer, Gaspard, McCaslin and McMullen

Read first time 2/16/89 and referred to Committee on  Governmental Operations.

AN ACT Relating to the creation of the Washington state amateur athletics commission; adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     Organized amateur athletic contests and events contribute to the physical and emotional development of the citizens of the state of Washington.  They enhance the quality of life and are an appropriate matter of concern to the government of the state of Washington.  It is in the public interest to have a state commission to serve as the focus for the promotion, coordination, and regulation of amateur athletic events and contests in Washington state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     There is established a Washington state amateur athletics commission.  The commission consists of seven public citizen voting members appointed by the governor and four voting members from the legislature, two appointed by the president of the senate and two appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.  The legislative members shall be from the two major political parties in each house.  The governor shall appoint citizen members representing diverse geographic areas of the state and various athletic disciplines.  The commission membership shall also include four ex officio nonvoting members, one each designated by the director of the department of commerce and economic development, the director of the department of community development, the director of the parks and recreation commission, and the superintendent of public instruction.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     Commission members shall serve three-year terms except the governor's appointees shall serve initially as follows:  Two commissioners shall serve for terms expiring June 30, 1990; two commissioners shall serve for terms expiring June 30, 1991; and three commissioners shall serve for terms expiring June 30, 1992.  No member shall serve more than two full three-year terms, but may serve until a successor is named.  Vacancies shall be filled by appointment for the remainder of unexpired terms.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     Members of the commission shall serve without compensation.  However, nonlegislative members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060, and legislative members shall be reimbursed as provided in RCW 44.04.120.  Commission members are to be appointed by July 1, 1989.  The commission shall hold its first meeting by July 31, 1989, in order to organize, elect a chairperson, and adopt rules pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW.  A majority of commission members shall constitute a quorum.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     The commission may employ such staff as deemed necessary.  The governor shall designate an existing agency of state government to provide additional staff support for use as necessary.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     The commission may develop, sponsor, promote, and administer any activity, project, or program within or without the state which is related to the fostering and development of amateur athletic contests or events in the state of Washington, including annual or biannual state amateur athletic games in winter or summer, and may assist, for the purpose of this chapter, any person or public or private agency, subject to the restrictions on state credit contained in Article VIII, section 5 and Article XII, section 9 of the state Constitution.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7.     The commission may, subject to any limitations otherwise imposed by law, receive and accept for and in the name of the state any funds which may be offered or become available from federal grants or appropriations, private gifts, donations, or bequests, or any other source, and may expend such funds, subject to any limitations otherwise provided by law, for the encouragement and promotion of organized amateur athletic contests and events, either by direct grant, by contract, or other cooperative means.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8.     Sections 1 through 7 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9.     This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.