BILL REQ. #:  H-1494.1 

Read first time 02/18/2003.   Referred to Committee on State Government.

     AN ACT Relating to allowing caucuses on the basis of political party affiliation under the Open Public Meetings Act; adding a new section to chapter 42.30 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that the Open Public Meetings Act was not intended to prevent caucusing on the basis of political party, where such party affiliation is the basis of membership on the governing board of a public agency, as defined by the act. The legislature finds that the Open Public Meetings Act has been construed so as to cause unintended results, such as the minority of a county council being permitted to caucus as a party while the majority is not. The legislature intends to clarify the act so that governing body members may caucus by political party affiliation.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 42.30 RCW to read as follows:
     At any meeting of the governing body of a public agency where that governing body is composed of officials elected or appointed on the basis of political party affiliation, members of that governing body of the same political party may caucus as a group without that caucus being open to the public. No final action may be undertaken at such a caucus.