S-2124

AN ACT Relating to the Washington state women's commission; adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature reaffirms that the public policy of this state is to ensure equal opportunity and social justice for all of its citizens. The legislature finds that women have unique challenges in achieving equality as a result of historic patterns of discrimination. It is the purpose of this chapter to improve the status and well-being of women by ensuring their full and equal participation in government, business, and education and recognizing their contribution to the home, family, community, the private sector, and the economy. The legislature further finds that it is desirable to direct a continuing evaluation and study of state laws and rules as they affect women; and further, to encourage the education of the citizens of this state with regard to public policy as it relates to the diverse pursuits of women, and to encourage the promotion of equality, as well as equity and social justice. Therefore, the legislature deems it necessary to create a commission to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The Washington state women's commission is established in the office of the governor.

(2) The commission shall consist of nine members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. Two members of the senate, one from each of the two major political parties, appointed by the president of the senate, and two members of the house of representatives, one from each of the two major political parties, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, shall serve as advisory members. The governor shall consider nominations for membership based upon maintaining a balanced and diverse distribution of ethnic, geographic, sex, age, socioeconomic status, and occupational representation, where practicable.

(3) All women's commission members shall serve at the pleasure of the governor, but in no case may any member serve more than three years without formal reappointment by the governor. All legislative advisory members shall serve for a two-year term, and the position of any legislative advisory member shall be deemed vacated whenever such member ceases to be a member of the house from which he or she was appointed. Of the persons initially appointed by the governor to the women's commission, three shall be appointed to serve one year, three to serve two years, and three to serve three years. Upon expiration of such terms, subsequent appointments shall be for three years. Any vacancies occurring in the membership of the commission shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointments.

(4)(a) Nonlegislative members shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

(b) Legislative members shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with RCW 44.04.120.

(5) A simple majority of the membership constitutes a quorum for the purpose of conducting business.

(6) The governor shall appoint an executive director of the commission.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The executive director shall appoint staff who shall be state employees under Title 41 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The commission shall adopt rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. (1) The commission shall examine and define issues pertaining to the rights and needs of all women and make recommendations to the governor, the legislature, and state agencies with respect to desirable changes in programs, laws, and administrative practices. The primary functions of the commission are to address health care issues relevant to women and the economic condition of women in the state.

(2) The commission shall further advise such state agencies on the development and implementation of comprehensive and coordinated policies, plans, and programs focusing on the special problems and needs of women.

(3) The commission may gather data and disseminate information to the public in order to implement the purposes of this chapter.

(4) Each state department and agency shall provide appropriate and reasonable assistance to the commission as needed in order that the commission may carry out the purposes of this chapter

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. In carrying out its duties, the commission may establish such relationships with public and private institutions, local governments, private industry, community organizations, and other segments of the general public as may be needed to promote equal opportunity for women in government, education, economic security, employment, and services.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The commission may receive such gifts, grants, and endowments from private sources as may be made from time to time in trust or otherwise for the use and benefit of the purposes of the commission and to expend the same or any income therefrom according to the terms of the gifts, grants, or endowments, and the purposes of this chapter. The executive director shall make a report of such funds received from private sources to the office of financial management on a current basis. Such funds received from private sources shall not be applied to reduce or substitute for the commission's budget as appropriated by the legislature, but, shall be applied and expended toward projects and functions authorized by this chapter that were not funded by the legislature.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. 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. 9. Sections 1 through 8 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. The Washington state women's commission terminates on June 30, 2005.