HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1008

As Reported by House Committee On:

State Government & Tribal Affairs

Title: An act relating to membership on the Washington citizens' commission on salaries for elected officials.

Brief Description: Changing the definition of "immediate family" for purpose of membership on the Washington citizens' commission on salaries for elected officials.

Sponsors: Representatives Appleton and Hunt.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

State Government & Tribal Affairs: 1/12/11, 1/19/11 [DPS].

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Hunt, Chair; Appleton, Vice Chair; Taylor, Ranking Minority Member; Overstreet, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Condotta, Darneille, Dunshee, Hurst, McCoy and Miloscia.

Staff: Thamas Osborn (786-7129).

Background:

The Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials (Commission) is an appointed body responsible for biennially creating a proposed schedule of salaries for specified state officials. The elected officials subject to the salary proposals of the Commission include:

• members of the Legislature;

• elected officials of the executive branch of state government; and

• judges of the Supreme Court, courts of appeals, superior courts, and district courts.

The Commission consists of 16 members appointed by the Governor pursuant to specified selection procedures involving the Secretary of State, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate. Nine members must be registered voters from each of the nine congressional districts in Washington. Seven members must be members of specified professions with experience in personnel management. Specified categories of individuals are ineligible for membership on the Commission, including:

• state officials;

• public employees;

• lobbyists; or

• immediate family members of a state official, public employee, or lobbyist.

"Immediate family" is defined by statute to mean the parents, spouse or domestic partner, siblings, children, or dependent relative of a state official, public employee, or lobbyist.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

As it applies to public employees, the definition of "immediate family" is narrowed to include only the parents, spouse or domestic partner, siblings, children, or other dependent relative of the employee living in the household of the employee. This revision of the definition has the effect of authorizing a family member of a public employee to serve on the Commission provided the family member does not reside in the employee's home.

Statutory provisions regarding the composition of the Commission are revised to allow the appointment of an additional member representing the forthcoming new congressional district.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill amends statutory provisions regarding the composition of the Commission to allow the appointment of an additional member representing the forthcoming new congressional district.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The bill makes changes to the statute governing the membership of the Commission to allow family members of public employees to serve on the Commission provided they do not reside in the home of the employee. The bill should be amended to allow the Commission to seat an additional member from the forthcoming new congressional district.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Carol Sayer, Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials; and Katie Blinn, Office of the Secretary of State.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.