BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to conservation districts; amending RCW 89.08.210; and adding a new section to chapter 89.08 RCW.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 89.08.210 and 1973 1st ex.s. c 184 s 22 are each amended to read as follows:

The supervisors may employ a secretary, treasurer, technical experts, and such other officers, agents, and employees, permanent and temporary, as they may require, and determine their qualifications, duties, and compensation. It may call upon the attorney general for legal services, or may employ its own counsel and legal staff. The supervisors may delegate to their chairman, to one or more supervisors, or to one or more agents or employees such powers and duties as it deems proper. The supervisors shall furnish to the commission, upon request, copies of such internal rules, regulations, orders, contracts, forms, and other documents as they shall adopt or employ, and such other information concerning their activities as the commission may require in the performance of its duties under this 1973 amendatory act. The supervisors shall provide for the execution of surety bonds for officers and all employees who shall be entrusted with funds or property.

The supervisors shall provide for the keeping of a full and accurate record of all proceedings, resolutions, regulations, and orders issued or adopted. The supervisors shall provide for an annual audit of the accounts of receipts and disbursements in accordance with procedures prescribed by regulations of the commission.

The board may invite the legislative body of any municipality or county near or within the district, to designate a representative to advise and consult with it on all questions of program and policy which may affect the property, water supply, or other interests of such municipality or county. The governing body of a district shall appoint such advisory committees as may be needed to assure the availability of appropriate channels of communication to the board of supervisors, to persons affected by district operations, and to local, regional, state and interstate special-purpose districts and agencies responsible for community planning, zoning, or other resource development activities. The district shall keep such committees informed of its work, and such advisory committees shall submit recommendations from time to time to the board of supervisors.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 89.08 RCW to read as follows:

The treasurer of the county in which a conservation district is located is ex officio treasurer of the district. However, the board of supervisors by resolution may designate some other person having experience in financial or fiscal matters as treasurer of the conservation district. The board of supervisors may require a bond, with a surety company authorized to do business in the state of Washington, in an amount and under the terms and conditions which the board of supervisors by resolution from time to time finds will protect the district against loss. The premium on this bond shall be paid by the district.

All district funds shall be paid to the treasurer and disbursed only on warrants issued by an auditor appointed by the board of supervisors, upon orders or vouchers approved by it. The treasurer shall establish a conservation district fund into which shall be paid all district funds. The treasurer shall maintain any special funds created by the board of supervisors for the placement of all money as the board of supervisors may, by resolution, direct.

If the treasurer of the district is the treasurer of the county all district funds shall be deposited with the county depositaries under the same restrictions, contracts, and security as provided for county depositaries. If the treasurer of the district is some other person, all funds shall be deposited in a bank or banks authorized to do business in this state as the board of supervisors, by resolution, designates.

A district may provide and require a reasonable bond of any other person handling moneys or securities of the district, if the district pays the premium.