BILL REQ. #:  S-1788.2 

READ FIRST TIME 02/21/11.   

     AN ACT Relating to the health care facilities authority; and amending RCW 70.37.030.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 70.37.030 and 2002 c 91 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     There is hereby established a public body corporate and politic, with perpetual corporate succession, to be known as the Washington health care facilities authority. The authority shall constitute a political subdivision of the state established as an instrumentality exercising essential governmental functions. The authority is a "public body" within the meaning of RCW 39.53.010. The authority shall consist of the governor who shall serve as chairman, the lieutenant governor, the insurance commissioner, the secretary of health, and two members of the public representing consumer advocacy groups and one member of the public with no fiduciary interest or responsibility toward any health care facility or organization within seven years prior to appointment who shall be appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the senate, on the basis of the member's interest or expertise in health care delivery, for a term expiring on the fourth anniversary of the date of appointment. In the event that any of the offices referred to shall be abolished the resulting vacancy on the authority shall be filled by the officer who shall succeed substantially to the powers and duties thereof. The members of the authority shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.240 and shall be entitled to reimbursement, solely from the funds of the authority, for travel expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties under this chapter, subject to the provisions of RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. A majority shall constitute a quorum.
     The governor and the insurance commissioner each may designate an employee of his or her office to act on his or her behalf during the absence of the governor or the insurance commissioner at one or more of the meetings of the authority. The vote of the designee shall have the same effect as if cast by the governor or the insurance commissioner if the designation is in writing and is presented to the person presiding at the meetings included within the designation.
     The governor may designate a member to preside during the governor's absence.