Background:

Many statutory advisory committees and oversight committees have been established to provide policy research and recommendations and to oversee legislatively created programs. A few of these committees are:

The Education Accountability System and Oversight Committee.

Established in 2013, the Education Accountability System and Oversight Committee (EASOC) monitors the outcomes of the Education Accountability System (EAS), which is designed to identify, audit, and remediate persistently low-achieving schools. The EASOC consists of eight legislators, two members appointed by the Governor, and one nonlegislative member. The EASOC is required to monitor the progress of the EAS and make recommendations to the state Board of Education, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Governor, and the Legislature as necessary if changes to the EAS should be made. The EASOC also has a role in the decision to move a school district to a "level two" intervention if the district fails to make sufficient progress under a first intervention plan.

The Legislative Advisory Committee to the Committee on Advanced Tuition Payment.

The Committee on Advanced Tuition Payment and College Savings (CATP) oversees programs related to college tuition. The CATP consists of the State Treasurer, the Director of the Office of Financial Management, the Director of the Office of Student Financial Assistance, and two members appointed by the Governor. In 2011 a Legislative Advisory Committee (LAC) to the CATP was established that consists of eight legislators. The LAC is required to provide advice to the CATP and the State Actuary about the Guaranteed Education Tuition Program, which is a program through which families can prepay for tuition and benefit from tax-free growth in the account.

The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Trade Policy.

In 2003 the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Trade Policy (CTP) was created to monitor the impact that certain international trade agreements have on Washington state laws. The CTP consists of eight legislators and three ex officio members: one member from the Department of Agriculture, one member from the Office of the Attorney General, and the State Trade Representative. The CTP is required to hear public testimony annually about actual and potential impacts of international trade agreements and negotiations on the state, which it must report to the Office of the State Trade Representative. The CTP also must maintain active communication about international trade issues with the United States Trade Representative's office, Washington's congressional delegation, and the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The Joint Legislative Systems Committee.

The Joint Legislative Systems Committee (SC) was created in 1986 to oversee the direction of the Legislature's information processing and communications systems. It consists of four legislative members, one from each caucus in each chamber. At the same time, the Joint Legislative Systems Administrative Committee (AC) was created, consisting of five members⁠: the Secretary of the Senate, the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, the Code Reviser, and a staff person from each chamber. The AC is responsible for managing the Legislature's information processing and communications systems. The two committees work together to employ a legislative systems coordinator, who serves at the pleasure of the SC, and to oversee the Legislative Service Center. While the AC is responsible for adopting policies, procedures, and standards for information processing and communications systems⁠—including charges for services and equipment and compensation for personnel⁠—these decisions are all subject to approval of the SC. The SC is further responsible for processes to make legislative information available electronically to the public.

The Building Bridges Work Group.

The Building Bridges Work Group (Work Group) was established in 2007 with the mission to prevent students from dropping out of school and to intervene and reengage students that have dropped out. The Work Group includes four legislative members and representatives from K-12 and state agencies that work with such youth, as well as other state agencies and organizations that have juvenile- or educational-focused missions. The Work Group must make recommendations to the Legislature to: reduce barriers that prevent the coordination of various agencies; develop and track performance measures and benchmarks for the partner agencies and organizations; and identify best practices for its mission. It must report to the Legislature and the Governor on an annual basis with proposed strategies to reduce student dropouts and reengage students that have already dropped out. The Building Bridges Work Group was eventually renamed the Graduation: A Team Effort Advisory Group.

The State Birth-to-Three Interagency Coordinating Council.

The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires each state to have a state interagency coordinating council for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. The State Interagency Coordinating Council (Council) is responsible for ensuring that state agencies involved in early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities are coordinating with each other to plan and deliver such services. The stated mission of the Council is to develop a comprehensive statewide system for such services. The Council has as many as 23 members who are appointed by the Governor⁠⁠; one of the members must be from the Legislature. Although Washington statutes include the term "Birth-to-Three" in the Council's title, the Council instead calls itself the State Interagency Coordinating Council.

The Legislative Oral History Committee.

The Legislative Oral History Committee (LOHC) is responsible for documenting and preserving the history of the Legislature. Its responsibilities include selecting candidates and subjects for interviews, selecting transcripts and related historical material for publication, and providing advice to the Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives on the administration of the Oral History program. The LOHC consists of eight legislative members.

The Life Sciences Discovery Fund Authority.

Created in 2005, the Life Sciences Discovery Fund Authority (Authority) was responsible for soliciting money for, and using money from, the Life Sciences Discovery Fund (Fund) to promote life sciences research. The Authority was essentially a board of trustees consisting of four legislators and seven members appointed by the Governor. In 2019 the responsibilities to oversee the Fund were transferred to the Department of Commerce, who in turn was directed to contract with a statewide nonprofit organization with a life science focus. The Authority's enabling statutes were repealed.

The Agency Council on Coordinated Transportation.

The Agency Council on Coordinated Transportation (ACCT) was created in 1998. The ACCT consisted of state agencies, transportation providers, consumer advocates, and legislators. The ACCT was required to adopt a biennial work plan for transportation systems improvements and to review local plans developed by regional transportation planning organizations. Its statutory authority was repealed in 2011.

Association of Washington Generals.

The Association of Washington Generals (AWG) is a service organization formed in 1970 by Lieutenant Governor John Cherberg. The AWG was recognized in statute by the Legislature in 2005 as a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan corporation with the purpose of recognizing outstanding service to the state and bringing those individuals together to serve as ambassadors of trade, tourism, and international goodwill. The AWG is governed by a Board of Directors (Board) that includes the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Secretary of State as ex officio non-voting members. The Board reviews nominations for and selects new Washington generals to extend formal recognition for individuals' outstanding service to the state, as well as "honorary Washington generals" outside of Washington. The AWG may conduct activities in support of its mission, such as operating a study abroad and college readiness fellowship called the Washington World Fellows and training and promoting the generals as ambassadors of Washington. The AWG must collaborate with the Lieutenant Governor to administer a sports mentoring program to encourage underserved youth to join or participate in sports.

The Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations.

The Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations (LCED) was created in 1985. The stated purpose of the LCED is to involve the Legislature in economic development to maintain a healthy state economy and to provide employment opportunities to Washington residents. The LCED consists of six senators, six representatives, and the Lieutenant Governor, who serves as the chairperson. The Senate members are appointed by the President of the Senate and the House of Representatives (House) members are appointed by the Speaker of the House with no more than three members from each chamber from the same political party. A list of appointees must be submitted before the close of session for confirmation by Senate and House members. The LCED must establish subcommittees on international trade and a subcommittee on industrial development, and it may establish other subcommittees by majority vote. The LCED is authorized to study and review economic development issues, including international trade, tourism, investment and industrial development. The LCED also must assist the Legislature in developing a comprehensive and consistent economic development policy.

Legislative Youth Advisory Council.

Established in 2005, the Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC) examines issues of importance to youth. The LYAC consists of 22 members between the ages of 14 and 18 who apply to serve. The LYAC recommends applicants to the Lieutenant Governor, who notifies candidates of their final selection. The members serve two-year terms and, if eligible, may be appointed for an additional two-year term. The program is administered by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). If sufficient funds are available, the LYAC may meet at least three, but not more than six, times per year. Duties of the LYAC include:

advising the Legislature on legislation, policy, and budget matters relating to youth;
advising standing committees, commissions, and task forces on issues related to youth;
conducting periodic seminars for its members on leadership, government, and the Legislature; and
submitting annual reports to the Legislature with any recommendations for legislation.

Summary:

The following committees are eliminated:

the Education Accountability System and Oversight Committee;
the Legislative Advisory Committee to the Committee on Advanced Tuition Payment;
the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Trade Policy; and
the Joint Legislative Systems Committee.

The Joint Legislative Systems Administrative Committee (AC) absorbs duties previously assigned to the Joint Legislative Systems Committee (SC), and the AC's decisions are no longer subject to the approval of the SC.

The Association of Washington Generals is renamed the Washington State Leadership Board. It is no longer required to establish selection criteria for, select, or train Washington generals or honorary generals. Four legislators⁠—one from each caucus from each chamber⁠—are added to its Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may approve Boundless Washington, an outdoor leadership program for young people with disabilities, to satisfy its requirement to administer a sports mentoring program.

The Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations (LCED) members are no longer subject to confirmation by Senate or House of Representatives members. The LCED's duties are expanded to include evaluating opportunities to collaborate to achieve the state's international relations objectives; studying and adopting a state tourism slogan or tagline; designating official legislative trade delegations; and proposing potential sister-state relationships for the Governor's approval. The LCED is no longer required to establish subcommittees on international trade and industrial development.

The Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC) may have more than 22 members. The LYAC must, rather than may, meet at least three times per year, and the cap on six meetings is removed. Administration of the program is transferred from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to the Lieutenant Governor. The requirement to consider conducting some of the meetings using telecommunications technology is modified to encourage the council to use remote video conferencing technology for remote participation in meetings.

Committee support for the Legislative Oral History Committee must be provided by the Office of the Secretary of the Senate and the Office of the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives.

References to the following committees are modified:

References to the Building Bridges Work Group are changed to the Graduation: A Team Effort Partnership Advisory Committee.
References to the State Birth-to-Three Interagency Coordinating Council are changed to the State Interagency Coordinating Council for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities and Their Families.

References to the Life Sciences Discovery Fund Authority and the Agency Council on Coordinated Transportation are removed.

House	95	1
Senate	48	0	(Senate amended)
House	96	1	(House concurred)