AN ACT Relating to the legislative transportation committee; amending RCW 44.40.010; adding a new section to chapter 44.40 RCW; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 44.40.010 and 1980 c 87 s 39 are each amended to read as follows:

The joint fact-finding committee on highways, streets, and bridges originally created by chapter 111, Laws of 1947, recreated and renamed the joint committee on highways by chapter 3, Laws of 1963 extraordinary session, is hereby recreated and renamed the legislative transportation committee. The renaming of said committee shall not affect any powers invested in it or its duties imposed upon it by any other statute. All appropriations made to the committee under its former name shall continue to be available to said committee as renamed, the legislative transportation committee. The committee shall consist of ((~~eleven~~)) twelve senators to be appointed by the president of the senate and twelve members of the house of representatives to be appointed by the speaker thereof. Not more than six members from each house may be from the same political party. A list of appointees shall be submitted before the close of each regular legislative session during an odd-numbered year or any successive special session convened by the governor or the legislature prior to the close of such regular session or successive special session(s) for confirmation of senate members, by the senate, and house members, by the house. Vacancies occurring shall be filled by the appointing authority. All vacancies must be filled from the same political party and from the same house as the member whose seat was vacated.

The chair will be elected biennially by the membership of the committee. After January 1, 2001, each succeeding chair must be from the opposite house of the current chair, and be from the majority party. The vice-chair must be from the opposite house and the opposite political party.

On the effective date of this act, the president of the senate shall appoint an additional senate member as provided by the 1999 amendment of this section. With the appointment of the additional member, the terms of officers elected before the effective date of this act are terminated, and the committee shall hold a new election of officers. The 1999 amendment of this section does not affect the 1997-1999 committee members, but applies only to members appointed at the close of the 1999 session.

The committee shall adopt rules and procedures for its orderly operation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 44.40 RCW to read as follows:

The members of the legislative transportation committee shall form an executive committee consisting of two members from each of the four major political caucuses, which will include the chair and vice-chair of the legislative transportation committee. There will be four alternates to the executive committee, one from each of the four major political caucuses. Each alternate may represent a member from the same political caucus from which they were chosen when that member is absent, and have voting privileges during that absence.

The executive committee is responsible for performing all general administrative and personnel duties assigned to it in the rules and procedures adopted by the committee, as well as other duties delegated to it by the committee. Except when those responsibilities are assumed by the legislative transportation committee, the executive committee is responsible for adopting interim work plans and meeting schedules, approving all contracts signed on behalf of the committee, approving policies for travel of members and staff, and setting policies for staff utilization.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. 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 takes effect immediately.