Background: The Legislature often creates advisory committees and oversight committees to provide policy research and recommendations and to oversee legislatively created programs. Some examples include:

The Education Accountability System and Oversight Committee. The Education Accountability System Oversight Committee (EASOC) was created in 2013 alongside provisions establishing the Washington Achievement Index, the state accountability system used to identify challenged schools needing improvement. EASOC is composed of two legislators from each caucus of the House of Representatives and the Senate, two appointees from the Governor, and one non-legislative member of the Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee. EASOC's tasks include monitoring the progress and outcomes of the education accountability system and making recommendations for changes to the accountability system as necessary. EASOC is directed to report biennially to the legislative education committees. EASOC met once in 2014, but has never produced or submitted a report.

The Legislative Advisory Committee to the Committee on Advanced Tuition Payment. The Legislative Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee) to the Committee on Advanced Tuition Payment and College Savings was created in 2011. The advisory committee consists of eight legislative members. The Advisory Committee is responsible for providing advice to the committee and the state actuary regarding the administration of the Guaranteed Education Tuition program and the college savings program including, but not limited to, pricing guidelines, the tuition unit price, and the unit payout value.

The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Trade Policy. The Legislature created the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Trade Policy (JLOCTP) in 2003 to monitor trade agreement impacts on Washington laws, and to provide a mechanism for legislators and citizens to voice their opinions on trade agreements to state and federal officials. JLOCTP is an 11-member committee, comprised of four senators, four representatives, and three ex-officio members. JLOCTP examines issues related to international trade, international economic integration, and trade agreements that the members deem appropriate. JLOCTP is required to:

annually hear public testimony and report to the state Trade Representative's Office and Legislature on the impacts of international trade agreements and negotiations on the state;
conduct an annual assessment and report to the Legislature on the impacts of international trade agreements upon Washington law; and
maintain active communication with federal and state trade offices, the state's congressional delegation, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and any other bodies the committee deems appropriate regarding ongoing developments in international trade agreements and policy.

The Joint Legislative Systems Committee. The Joint Legislative Systems Committee (JLSC) was created in 1986 to oversee the direction of the information processing and communications systems of the Legislature. JLSC consists of four legislative members, one from each of the two largest caucuses in each chamber of the Legislature. JLSC is advised by an administrative committee, the Joint Legislative Systems Administrative Committee (JLSAC), consisting of five members: two from Senate administration, two from House administration, and one from the Office of the Code Reviser. Among other duties, JLSAC is responsible for adopting policies and standards regarding information processing and communications systems of the Legislature, subject to the approval of JLSC. The two committees work together to employ the legislative systems coordinator, who is the executive head of the Legislative Service Center (LSC). LSC provides data processing services, equipment, training, and support to the Legislature.

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 a number of 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 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 Birth-to-Three 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 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 name used for the Council, since it was re-established by Executive Order 14-03, is the State Interagency Coordinating Council for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities and Their Families.

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 managed by 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 to improve the accessibility to and coordination of special needs transportation services. 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. The ACCT terminated on June 30, 2011, and the statutes were repealed in 2012.

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. The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and the Secretary of State serve on the association's board of directors as ex officio non-voting members. The board will review nominations for and select new Washington generals, and establish the title of "honorary Washington general" to honor worthy individuals from outside of Washington.

The AWG may conduct activities in support of their mission, including establishing selection criteria for selecting Washington generals, operate a study abroad and college readiness fellowship called the Washington World Fellows, and training and promoting the generals as ambassadors of Washington.

The Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations. The Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations (LCEDIR) was created in 1985. The purpose of the LCEDIR is to provide responsive and consistent involvement by the Legislature in economic development to maintain a healthy state economy and to provide employment opportunities to Washington residents. The LCEDIR consists of six state senators and six state representatives and the Lieutenant Governor, who serves as the chairperson. The Senate members are appointed by the President of the Senate and the House members are appointed by the Speaker of the House with no more than three members from each house from the same political party. A list of appointees must be submitted before the close of session for confirmation of Senate and House members.

The LCEDIR may establish subcommittees, including a subcommittee on international trade and a subcommittee on industrial development. The LCEDIR is authorized to study and review economic development issues, including international trade, tourism, investment and industrial development. The LCEDIR is to 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. Interested students may apply by completing an online application to the LYAC. The LYAC recommends applicants to the lieutenant governor, who notifies candidates of the final selection. The members serve two-year terms and, if eligible, may be appointed for an additional two-year term. Duties of the LYAC consist of:

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.

If sufficient funds are available, LYAC may meet at least three, but not more than six, times per year. The program is administered by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). If sufficient funds are available, OSPI provides administration, coordination, and facilitation assistance to the LYAC.

Summary of Bill: The following committees are eliminated:

EASOC;
Advisory Committee;
JLOCTP; and
JLSC.

The powers and duties of the JLSC are transferred to the JLSAC.

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

The names of the following committees are modified:

references to the Work Group are changed to the Graduation: A Team Effort Partnership Advisory Committee; and
references to Council are changed to the State Interagency Coordinating Council for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities and Their Families.

References to the Authority and the ACCT are removed. Expired legislative directives regarding reports, recommendations, or tuition determinations or changes are also removed.

References to the AWG are changed to the Washington State Leadership Board (WSLB). The purpose of the WSLB is expanded to include leadership opportunities for youth, veterans, and people with disabilities. The WSLB board of directors is expanded to include four legislative ex officio members who are appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House. The board of directors:

may approve the Boundless Washington Outdoor Leadership Program for young people with disabilities as satisfying the terms of the Sports Mentoring Program; and
is no longer required to review nominations for and select new Washington generals, and establish the title of "honorary Washington general" to honor worthy individuals from outside of Washington.

LCEDIR. The list of appointees for the LCEDIR is no longer subject to confirmation of the Senate and House members. The requirement for the LCEDIR to establish a subcommittee on international trade and a subcommittee on industrial development is removed. The issues reviewed by the LCEDIR are amended to include:

evaluating opportunities to collaborate with agencies in achieving Washington state's international relations objectives;
studying and adopt any state tourism slogan or tagline recommended by the Washington Tourism Marketing Authority;
designating official legislative trade delegations and nominate office of international relations and protocol; and
proposing potential sister-state relationships to be submitted to the Governor for approval.

LYAC. Administration of the LYAC is transferred from OSPI to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. The lieutenant governor must provide administration, supervision, and facilitation support to LYAC. In facilitating the program, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor may collaborate with the WSLB.

Rather than membership consisting of exactly 22 members, LYAC membership consists of at least 22 members. LYAC must meet at least three times a year and the limitation of no more than six meetings a year is removed. Provisions making certain duties of LYAC, including the reimbursement of members, contingent on the sufficiency of funds are removed. Provisions requiring the Lieutenant Governor's Office to use existing staff and resources to perform certain duties are also removed. The duties of LYAC are subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor's Office.

The provision requiring the LYAC to consider conducting at least some of its meetings via the K-20 telecommunications network is removed. LYAC is encouraged to use technology, such as remote video conferencing, to facilitate members' participation at meetings.