SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5506
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
State Government & Elections, January 14, 2022
Title: An act relating to the appointment process for the chairperson and vice chairperson of the joint administrative rules review committee.
Brief Description: Concerning the appointment process for the chairperson and vice chairperson of the joint administrative rules review committee.
Sponsors: Senators Kuderer, Hasegawa, Lovick and Wilson, C..
Brief History:
Committee Activity: State Government & Elections: 1/12/22, 1/14/22 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Updates the appointment process for the chairperson and vice chairperson of the Joint Administrative Rules Review Committee.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT & ELECTIONS
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Hunt, Chair; Kuderer, Vice Chair; Wilson, J., Ranking Member; Hasegawa and Hawkins.
Staff: Melissa Van Gorkom (786-7491)
Background:

The Joint Administrative Rules Review Committee (JARRC) is an eight-member legislative committee that reviews proposed and existing agency rules to determine whether they are consistent with legislative intent and have been adopted in accordance with all provisions of law, and whether agencies are using policy or interpretive statements in place of rules.  JARRC members are appointed in the following manner:

  • four members, with no more than two members from the same political party, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
  • four members, with no more than two members from the same political party, appointed by the President of the Senate;
  • one alternate member from each caucus of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House; and
  • one alternate member from each caucus of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate.

 
Members and alternates must be appointed as soon as possible after the Legislature convenes in regular session in an odd-numbered year, but no later than June 30 of the same year.  Vacancies must be filled within 30 days by appointment of a legislator from the same political party as the original appointment.  The term of any member or alternate extends until a successor is appointed or the member no longer serves in the Legislature, whichever occurs first.  Members and alternates may be reappointed to the committee.
 
Appointments for chairpersons and vice chairpersons from among the committee membership must be made as soon as possible after a legislative session convenes in regular session in an even-numbered year.  The appointments are made on an alternating basis between the House of Representatives and the Senate.  Beginning in the year 2018, the Speaker of the House of Representatives appoints the chairperson and vice chairperson and beginning in 2020, the Secretary of the Senate makes the appointments.
Summary of Bill:

Appointments for chairperson must alternate between members of the House of Representatives and members of the Senate every two years.  Appointments for chairperson and vice chairperson may not be members of the same house or political party. 
 
The alternating schedule is updated requiring the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate to appoint the chairperson and vice chairperson in alternating even numbered years, with the Speaker of the House appointing the chairperson and the President of the Senate appointing the vice chairperson beginning in 2022, and the President of the Senate appointing the chairperson and the Speaker of the House of Representatives appointing the vice chairperson beginning in 2024.
 
A vacancy of the chairperson or vice chairperson must be filled within 30 days by appointment of a legislator from the same political party as the original appointment.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO: This is a simple update to the appointment process.  It is not the duty of the Secretary of the Senate to make appointments, that is the duty of the President of the Senate so this bill makes the necessary updates to the process.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Patty Kuderer, Prime Sponsor.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.