AN
ACT Relating to statutory committees of the legislature; amending RCW
44.28.060, 44.28.065, 44.40.015, 44.40.040, 44.40.090, 44.40.100, 44.44.030,
44.48.050, 44.48.090, 44.48.120, 44.68.040, and 44.68.050; adding a new section
to chapter 44.04 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 44.28 RCW; adding a new
section to chapter 44.40 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 44.44 RCW; adding
a new section to chapter 44.48 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 44.68
RCW.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1. A
new section is added to chapter 44.04 RCW to read as follows:
The
joint legislative audit and review committee, the legislative transportation
committee, the joint committee on pension policy, the legislative evaluation
and accountability program committee, and the joint legislative systems
committee are subject to such operational policies, procedures, and oversight
as are deemed necessary by the facilities and operations committee of the
senate and the executive rules committee of the house of representatives to
ensure operational adequacy of the agencies of the legislative branch. As used
in this section, "operational policies, procedures, and oversight"
includes the development process of biennial budgets, contracting procedures,
personnel policies, and compensation plans, selection of a chief administrator,
facilities, and expenditures. This section does not grant oversight authority
to the facilities and operations committee of the senate over any standing
committee of the house of representatives or oversight authority to the
executive rules committee of the house of representatives over any standing
committee of the senate.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2. A
new section is added to chapter 44.28 RCW to read as follows:
The
administration of the joint legislative audit and review committee is subject
to section 1 of this act.
Sec.
3. RCW
44.28.060 and 1996 c 288 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
The
members of the joint committee shall form an executive committee consisting of
one member from each of the four major political caucuses, which shall include
a chair and a vice-chair. The chair and vice-chair shall serve for a period
not to exceed two years. The chair and the vice-chair may not be members of
the same political party. The chair shall alternate between the members of the
majority parties in the senate and the house of representatives.
Subject
to section 1 of this act, the executive committee is responsible for
performing all general administrative and personnel duties assigned to it in
the rules and procedures adopted by the joint committee, as well as other
duties delegated to it by the joint committee. The executive committee shall
recommend applicants for the position of the legislative auditor to the
membership of the joint committee. The legislative auditor shall be hired with
the approval of a majority of the membership of the joint committee. Subject
to section 1 of this act, the executive committee shall set the salary of
the legislative auditor.
The
joint committee shall adopt rules and procedures for its orderly operation.
The joint committee may create subcommittees to perform duties under this chapter.
Sec.
4. RCW
44.28.065 and 1996 c 288 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
The
legislative auditor shall:
(1)
Establish and manage the office of the joint legislative audit and review
committee to carry out the functions of this chapter;
(2)
Direct the audit and review functions described in this chapter and ensure that
performance audits are performed in accordance with the "Government
Auditing Standards" published by the comptroller general of the United
States as applicable to the scope of the audit;
(3)
Make findings and recommendations to the joint committee and under its
direction to the committees of the state legislature concerning the
organization and operation of state agencies and the expenditure of state funds
by units of local government;
(4)
Subject to section 1 of this act, in consultation with and with the
approval of the executive committee, hire staff necessary to carry out the
purposes of this chapter. Subject to section 1 of this act, employee
salaries, other than the legislative auditor, shall be set by the legislative
auditor with the approval of the executive committee;
(5)
Assist the several standing committees of the house and senate in consideration
of legislation affecting state departments and their efficiency; appear before
other legislative committees; and assist any other legislative committee upon
instruction by the joint legislative audit and review committee;
(6)
Provide the legislature with information obtained under the direction of the
joint legislative audit and review committee;
(7)
Maintain a record of all work performed by the legislative auditor under the
direction of the joint legislative audit and review committee and keep and make
available all documents, data, and reports submitted to the legislative auditor
by any legislative committee.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 5. A
new section is added to chapter 44.40 RCW to read as follows:
The
administration of the legislative transportation committee is subject to
section 1 of this act.
Sec.
6. RCW
44.40.015 and 1999 sp.s. c 1 s 617 are each amended 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.
Subject
to section 1 of this act, 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, determining the number of
legislative transportation committee staff, and other duties delegated to it by
the committee. Except when those responsibilities are assumed by the
legislative transportation committee, and subject to section 1 of this act,
the executive committee is responsible for adopting interim work plans and
meeting schedules, approving all contracts signed on behalf of the committee,
and setting policies for legislative transportation ((commitee [committee]))
committee staff utilization.
Sec.
7. RCW
44.40.040 and 1979 c 151 s 157 are each amended to read as follows:
The members of the legislative transportation committee and the
house and senate transportation committees shall receive allowances while
attending meetings of the committees or subcommittees and while engaged in
other authorized business of the committees as provided in RCW 44.04.120 ((as
now or hereafter amended)). Subject to section 1 of this act, all
expenses incurred by the committee, and the house and senate transportation
committees, including salaries of employees of the legislative transportation
committee, shall be paid upon voucher forms as provided by the office of
financial management and signed by the chairman or vice chairman or authorized
designee of the chairman of the committee, and the authority of said chairman
or vice chairman to sign vouchers shall continue until their successors are
selected. Vouchers may be drawn upon funds appropriated for the expenses of
the committee.
Sec.
8. RCW
44.40.090 and 1977 ex.s. c 235 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
Subject
to section 1 of this act, powers and duties enumerated by this chapter
shall be delegated to the senate and house transportation committees during
periods when the legislative transportation committee is not appointed.
Sec.
9. RCW
44.40.100 and 1977 ex.s. c 235 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
Subject
to section 1 of this act, the legislative transportation committee ((and/or))
and the senate and house transportation committees may enter into
contracts on behalf of the state to carry out the purposes of this
chapter ((44.40 RCW as amended)); and it or they may act for the state
in the initiation of or participation in any multigovernmental program relative
to transportation planning or programming; and it or they may enter into
contracts to receive federal or other funds, grants, or gifts to carry out said
purposes and to be used in preference to or in combination with state funds.
When federal or other funds are received, they shall be deposited with the
state treasurer and thereafter expended only upon approval by the committee or
committees.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 10. A
new section is added to chapter 44.44 RCW to read as follows:
The
administration of the joint committee on pension policy is subject to section 1
of this act.
Sec.
11. RCW
44.44.030 and 1987 c 25 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
Subject to section 1 of this act, the state actuary shall have the
authority to select and employ such research, technical, clerical personnel,
and consultants as the actuary deems necessary, whose salaries shall be fixed
by the actuary and approved by the joint committee on pension policy, and who shall
be exempt from the provisions of the state civil service law, chapter 41.06
RCW.
(2)
All actuarial valuations and experience studies performed by the office of the
state actuary shall be signed by a member of the American academy of
actuaries. If the state actuary is not such a member, the state actuary, after
approval by the committee, shall contract for a period not to exceed two years
with a member of the American academy of actuaries to assist in developing
actuarial valuations and experience studies.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 12. A
new section is added to chapter 44.48 RCW to read as follows:
The
administration of the legislative evaluation and accountability program
committee is subject to section 1 of this act.
Sec.
13. RCW
44.48.050 and 1977 ex.s. c 373 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
Subject
to section 1 of this act, all expenses incurred by the committee, including
salaries and expenses of employees, shall be paid upon voucher forms as
provided by the administrator and signed by the chairman or vice chairman of
the committee and attested by the secretary of said committee, and the
authority of said chairman and secretary to sign vouchers shall continue until
their successors are selected after each ensuing session of the legislature.
Vouchers may be drawn on funds appropriated by law for the committee:
PROVIDED, That the senate and the house may authorize the committee to draw on
funds appropriated by the legislature for legislative expenses.
Sec.
14. RCW
44.48.090 and 1979 c 151 s 158 are each amended to read as follows:
The
committee shall have the following powers:
(1)
To have timely access, upon written request of the administrator, to all machine
readable, printed, and other data of state agencies relative to expenditures,
budgets, and related fiscal matters;
(2)
To suggest changes relative to state accounting and reporting systems to the
office of financial management or its successor and to require timely written
responses to such suggestions; and
(3)
Subject to section 1 of this act, to enter into contracts; and when
entering into any contract for computer access, make necessary provisions
relative to the scheduling of computer time and usage in recognition of the
unique requirements and priorities of the legislative process.
Sec.
15. RCW
44.48.120 and 1977 ex.s. c 373 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:
The
committee is hereby authorized and empowered to appoint an officer to be known
as the LEAP administrator who shall be the executive officer of the committee
and assist in its duties and shall compile information for the committee.
Subject
to section 1 of this act, the committee is hereby authorized and empowered
to select and employ temporary and permanent personnel and fix their salaries.
The
duties of the administrator shall be as follows:
(1)
To manage the LEAP operations.
(2)
To assist the several standing committees of the house and senate; to appear
before other legislative committees; and to assist any other legislative
committee upon instruction by the committee.
(3)
To provide the legislature with information obtained under the direction of the
committee.
(4)
To maintain a record of all work performed by the administrator under the
direction of the committee and to keep and make available all documents, data,
and reports submitted to the administrator by any legislative committee.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 16. A
new section is added to chapter 44.68 RCW to read as follows:
The
administration of the joint legislative systems committee is subject to section
1 of this act.
Sec.
17. RCW
44.68.040 and 1986 c 61 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
Subject
to section 1 of this act:
(1)
The systems committee, after consultation with the administrative committee,
shall employ a legislative systems coordinator. The coordinator shall serve at
the pleasure of the systems committee, which shall fix the coordinator's
salary.
(2)
The coordinator shall serve as the executive and administrative head of the
center, and shall assist the administrative committee in managing the
information processing and communications systems of the legislature as
directed by the administrative committee.
Sec.
18. RCW
44.68.050 and 1986 c 61 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
The
administrative committee shall, subject to the approval of the systems
committee and subject to section 1 of this act:
(1)
Adopt policies, procedures, and standards regarding the information processing
and communications systems of the legislature;
(2)
Establish appropriate charges for services, equipment, and publications
provided by the legislative information processing and communications systems,
applicable to legislative and nonlegislative users as determined by the administrative
committee;
(3)
Employ or engage and fix the compensation for personnel required to carry out
the purposes of this chapter;
(4)
Enter into contracts for (a) the sale, exchange, or acquisition of equipment,
supplies, services, and facilities required to carry out the purposes of this
chapter and (b) the distribution of legislative information;
(5)
Generally assist the systems committee in carrying out its responsibilities
under this chapter, as directed by the systems committee.
