BILL REQ. #:  S-0298.1 

Read first time 01/16/13.   Referred to Committee on Governmental Operations .

     AN ACT Relating to the removal of county elected officials; amending RCW 36.29.090; and adding a new section to chapter 36.16 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 36.16 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Whenever an action based upon official misconduct is commenced against any elected county official the county commissioners may suspend the elected official from office until such suit is determined, and may appoint some person to fill the vacancy in accordance with chapter 42.12 RCW.
     (2) For purposes of this section, "action based upon official misconduct" means any action by a court or quasi-judicial entity that is based on wrongful conduct that affects, interrupts, or interferes with the performance of official's duty.

Sec. 2   RCW 36.29.090 and 2001 c 299 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     Whenever an action based upon official misconduct as defined in section 1 of this act is commenced against any county treasurer or the combined office of treasurer-assessor the county commissioners may suspend the treasurer or treasurer-assessor from office until such suit is determined, and may appoint some person to fill the vacancy.