Brief Description: Changing administrative oversight of the code reviser's office.

Sponsors: Representatives Haigh, McDermott, Jarrett, Miloscia, Nixon, Green, Wallace and Hunt.

Hearing Date: 2/23/05

Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).

Background:

The Office of the Code Reviser was created in 1951. The office is a legislative agency whose responsibilities include:

• codifying, indexing, and publishing the Revised Code of Washington, including harmonizing the statutes through administrative changes or suggested legislation;
• drafting bills on behalf of legislators, legislative committees, joint committees, state elected officials, and agencies.
• acting as the repository for various documents relating to administrative rulemaking; and
• publishing a variety of rulemaking-related publications, including the Washington Administrative Code and the State Register.

The Code Reviser is employed at will by the Statute Law Committee. The Statute Law Committee is also responsible for setting the Code Reviser's salary and employing the Code Reviser's staff. The Statute Law Committee is made up of the following members:

• a member of the Legislature who is also a lawyer;
• the chair of the House Judiciary Committee (or a member serving on the committee who is a member of the same party as the chair);
• a member of the House Judiciary Committee who is not a member of the same party as the chair;
• the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee (or a member serving on the committee who is a member of the same party as the chair);
• a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee who is not a member of the same party as the chair;
• five lawyers designated by the Washington State Bar Association;
• a Justice of the Washington Supreme Court or a lawyer designated by the Chief Justice; and
• a lawyer appointed by the Governor.

Summary of Bill:

The Office of the Code Reviser is placed under the supervision of an administrative committee composed of:

• the Secretary of the Senate and one Senate staff person appointed by the Secretary of the Senate; and
• the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives and one House staff person appointed by the Chief Clerk.

The administrative committee employs the Code Reviser, who serves at the pleasure of the administrative committee. The administrative committee fixes the Code Reviser's salary and may authorize the Code Reviser to hire staff. The Office of the Code Reviser is subject to 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 the operational adequacy of the agency.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on July 1, 2005.