[atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to the municipal research council; and amending RCW 43.110.010 and 43.110.030.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 43.110.010 and 1997 c 437 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

There shall be a state agency which shall be known as the municipal research council. The council shall be composed of ((~~twenty-three~~)) fifteen members. ((~~Four~~)) Two members shall be appointed by the president of the senate, with equal representation from each of the two major political parties; ((~~four~~)) two members shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, with equal representation from each of the two major political parties; one member shall be appointed by the governor independently; one member shall be the director of community, trade, and economic development; ((~~nine~~)) six members, who shall be city or town officials, shall be appointed by the governor from a list of ((~~nine~~)) six nominees submitted by the board of directors of the association of Washington cities; and ((~~five~~)) three members, who shall be county officials, shall be appointed by the governor, ((~~two~~)) one of whom shall be ((~~from a list of two nominees~~)) a nominee submitted by the board of directors of the Washington association of county officials, and ((~~three~~)) two of whom shall be from a list of ((~~three~~)) two nominees submitted by the board of directors of the Washington state association of counties. Of the city or town officials, at least one shall be an official of a city having a population of twenty thousand or more; at least one shall be an official of a city having a population of one thousand five hundred to twenty thousand; and at least one shall be an official of a town having a population of less than one thousand five hundred.

The terms of members shall be for two years. The terms of those members who are appointed as legislators or city, town, or county officials shall be dependent upon continuance in legislative, city, town, or county office. The terms of all members except legislative members shall commence on the first day of August in every odd-numbered year. The speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate shall make their appointments on or before the third Monday in January in each odd-numbered year, and the terms of the members thus appointed shall commence on the third Monday of January in each odd-numbered year.

Council members shall receive no compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses at rates in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 as now existing or hereafter amended, except that members of the council who are also members of the legislature shall be reimbursed at the rates provided by RCW 44.04.120.

Sec. 2. RCW 43.110.030 and 2000 c 227 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

The municipal research council shall contract for the provision of municipal research and services to cities, towns, and counties. Contracts for municipal research and services shall be made with state agencies, educational institutions, or private consulting firms, that in the judgment of council members are qualified to provide such research and services. Contracts for staff support may be made with state agencies, educational institutions, or private consulting firms that in the judgment of the council members are qualified to provide such support.

Municipal research and services shall consist of: (1) Studying and researching city, town, and county government and issues relating to city, town, and county government; (2) acquiring, preparing, and distributing publications related to city, town, and county government and issues relating to city, town, and county government; (3) providing educational conferences relating to city, town, and county government and issues relating to city, town, and county government; and (4) furnishing legal, technical, consultative, and field services to cities, towns, and counties concerning planning, public health, utility services, fire protection, law enforcement, public works, and other issues relating to city, town, and county government. ((Requests for legal services by county officials shall be sent to the office of the county prosecuting attorney. Responses by the municipal research council to county requests for legal services shall be provided to the requesting official and the county prosecuting attorney.))

The activities, programs, and services of the municipal research council shall be carried on in cooperation with the association of Washington cities and the Washington state association of counties. Services to cities and towns shall be based upon the moneys appropriated to the municipal research council from the city and town research services account under RCW 43.110.060. Services to counties shall be based upon the moneys appropriated to the municipal research council from the county research services account under RCW 43.110.050.