BILL REQ. #:  Z-0592.1 

Read first time 02/09/2007.   Referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs.

     AN ACT Relating to administrative practices concerning the information processing and communications systems of the legislature overseen by the joint legislative systems committee; amending RCW 44.68.010, 44.68.030, 44.68.040, 44.68.050, and 44.68.060; adding new sections to chapter 44.68 RCW; creating a new section; repealing RCW 44.68.070; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 44.68.010 and 1986 c 61 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
     (1) "Administrative committee" means the joint legislative systems administrative committee created under RCW 44.68.030.
     (2) "Center" means the ((joint)) legislative service center established under RCW 44.68.060.
     (3) "Coordinator" means the legislative systems coordinator employed under RCW 44.68.040.
     (4) "Systems committee" means the joint legislative systems committee created under RCW 44.68.020.

Sec. 2   RCW 44.68.030 and 1986 c 61 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The joint legislative systems administrative committee is created to manage the information processing and communications systems of the legislature. The administrative committee consists of five members appointed as follows:
     (a) The secretary of the senate, and another senate staff person appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the secretary;
     (b) The chief clerk of the house of representatives, and another house of representatives staff person appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the chief clerk; and
     (c) The code reviser, or the code reviser's designee, serving in a nonvoting capacity.
     (2) The coordinator shall serve as the secretary of the administrative committee.

Sec. 3   RCW 44.68.040 and 2001 c 259 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:
     Subject to RCW 44.04.260:
     (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)(a) 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;
     (b) In accordance with an adopted personnel plan, the coordinator shall employ or engage and fix the compensation for personnel required to carry out the purposes of this chapter;
     (c) The coordinator shall enter into contracts for: (i) The sale, exchange, or acquisition of equipment, supplies, services, and facilities required to carry out the purposes of this chapter; and (ii) the distribution of legislative information.

Sec. 4   RCW 44.68.050 and 2001 c 259 s 18 are each amended to read as follows:
     The administrative committee shall, subject to the approval of the systems committee and subject to RCW 44.04.260:
     (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)) Adopt a compensation plan 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)) Approve strategic and tactical information technology plans and provide guidance in operational matters required to carry out (a) 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.

Sec. 5   RCW 44.68.060 and 1986 c 61 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The administrative committee, subject to the approval of the systems committee, shall establish a ((joint)) legislative service center. The center shall provide automatic data processing services, equipment, training, and support to the legislature and legislative agencies. The center may also, by agreement, provide services to agencies of the judicial and executive branches of state government and other governmental entities, and provide public access to legislative information. All operations of the center shall be subject to the general supervision of the administrative committee in accordance with the policies, procedures, and standards established under RCW 44.68.050.
     (2) Except as provided otherwise in subsection (3) of this section, determinations regarding the security, disclosure, and disposition of information placed or maintained in the center shall rest solely with the originator and shall be made in accordance with any law regulating the disclosure of such information. The originator is the person who directly places information in the center.
     (3) When utilizing the center to carry out the bill drafting functions required under RCW 1.08.027, the code reviser shall be considered the originator as defined in RCW 44.68.060. However, determinations regarding the security, disclosure, and disposition of drafts placed or maintained in the center shall be made by the person requesting the code reviser's services and the code reviser, acting as the originator, shall comply with and carry out such determinations as directed by that person. A measure once introduced shall not be considered a draft under this subsection.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   A new section is added to chapter 44.68 RCW to read as follows:
     Subject to RCW 44.04.260, all expenses incurred, including salaries and expenses of employees, shall be paid upon voucher forms as provided and signed by the coordinator. Vouchers may be drawn on funds appropriated by law for the systems committee, administrative committee, and center: PROVIDED, That the senate, house of representatives, and code reviser may authorize the systems committee, administrative committee, and center to draw on funds appropriated by the legislature for related information technology expenses. The senate and house of representatives may transfer moneys appropriated for legislative expenses to the systems committee, administrative committee, and center, in addition to charges made under RCW 44.68.050(2).

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   A new section is added to chapter 44.68 RCW to read as follows:
     The systems committee, administrative committee, and center are hereby expressly exempted from the provisions of chapter 43.105 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   The legislative systems revolving fund is abolished as of July 1, 2007. All moneys remaining in the legislative systems revolving fund on July 1, 2007, shall be transferred to the state general fund.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   RCW 44.68.070 (Legislative systems revolving fund) and 1986 c 61 s 7 are each repealed.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2007.