AN ACT Relating to the redesignation of the Washington state commission on Mexican-American affairs; and amending RCW 43.115.010, 43.115.020, 43.115.030, 43.115.040, 43.115.050, 43.115.060, and 43.03.028; adding new sections to chapter 43.131 RCW; and repealing RCW 43.115.010, 43.115.020, 43.115.030, 43.115.040, 43.115.050, 43.115.060, and 43.115.900.

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

Sec. 1. Section 1, chapter 34, Laws of 1971 ex. sess. and RCW 43.115.010 are each amended to read as follows:

The legislature declares that the public policy of this state is to insure equal opportunity for all of its citizens. The legislature finds that ((~~Mexican-Americans and other Spanish speaking Americans~~)) Hispanics have unique and special problems. It is the purpose of this chapter to improve the well-being of ((~~Mexican-Americans and other Spanish speaking Americans~~)) Hispanics by insuring their participation in the fields of government, business, and education. The legislature further finds that it is necessary to aid ((~~Mexican-Americans and other Spanish speaking Americans~~)) Hispanics in obtaining governmental services in order to promote the health, safety and welfare of all the residents of this state. Therefore the legislature deems it necessary to create a commission to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

Sec. 2. Section 2, chapter 34, Laws of 1971 ex. sess. and RCW 43.115.020 are each amended to read as follows:

There is created a Washington state commission on ((~~Mexican-American~~)) Hispanic affairs.

Sec. 3. Section 3, chapter 34, Laws of 1971 ex. sess. as last amended by section 15, chapter 338, Laws of 1981 and RCW 43.115.030 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The commission shall consist of eleven members of Hispanic origin appointed by the governor. The membership shall include:

(a) Two members from workers in the agricultural field;

(b) ((~~Two~~)) Three members from the general populace of ((~~the Spanish speaking population~~)) Hispanics, but not of Mexican-American origin;

(d) One member ((~~from professional services~~)) who is a professional from the business community, government employment, or public service; ((~~and~~))

(e) One member from among elected trade union officials; and

(f) ((~~Four~~)) Three members from the Mexican-American community in the state.

(2) ((The members shall hold office commencing July 1, 1971 for four years and until their successors are chosen and qualified. Four of the initial appointees shall be appointed for two-year terms and three shall be appointed for four-year terms)) Members shall serve for four-year terms and until their successors are chosen and qualified. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.

(3) Members shall receive reimbursement for travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 as now existing or hereafter amended.

(4) Six members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business.

Sec. 4. Section 4, chapter 34, Laws of 1971 ex. sess. and RCW 43.115.040 are each amended to read as follows:

The commission shall:

(1) Elect one of its members to serve as chairman;

(2) Appoint a full time ((~~executive secretary~~)) director;

(3) Appoint a staff who shall be state employees pursuant to Title 41 RCW; and

(4) Adopt rules and regulations pursuant to chapter 34.04 RCW.

Sec. 5. Section 5, chapter 34, Laws of 1971 ex. sess. and RCW 43.115.050 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The commission shall advise state departments and agencies regarding appropriate action to be taken to help assure that state programs are providing the assistance needed by ((~~Mexican-Americans and other Spanish speaking Americans~~)) Hispanics.

(2) The commission shall further advise such departments and agencies on the development and implementation of comprehensive and coordinated policies, plans, and programs focusing on the special problems and needs of ((~~Mexican-Americans and other Spanish speaking Americans~~)) Hispanics.

(3) Each state department and agency shall appoint one staff member to an interagency advisory council on ((~~Mexican-American~~)) Hispanic affairs. The advisory council shall give technical assistance to the commission in order that the commission may carry out the purposes of this chapter.

Sec. 6. Section 6, chapter 34, Laws of 1971 ex. sess. and RCW 43.115.060 are each amended to read as follows:

In carrying out its duties the commission may establish such relationships with local governments and private industry as may be needed to promote equal opportunity for ((~~Mexican-Americans~~)) Hispanics in government, education and employment.

Sec. 7. Section 20, chapter 87, Laws of 1980 as last amended by section 9, chapter 155, Laws of 1986 and RCW 43.03.028 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) There is hereby created a state committee on agency officials' salaries to consist of seven members, or their designees, as follows: The president of the University of Puget Sound; the chairperson of the council of presidents of the state's four-year institutions of higher education; the chairperson of the State Personnel Board; the president of the Association of Washington Business; the president of the Pacific Northwest Personnel Managers' Association; the president of the Washington State Bar Association; and the president of the Washington State Labor Council. If any of the titles or positions mentioned in this subsection are changed or abolished, any person occupying an equivalent or like position shall be qualified for appointment by the governor to membership upon the committee.

(2) The committee shall study the duties and salaries of the directors of the several departments and the members of the several boards and commissions of state government, who are subject to appointment by the governor or whose salaries are fixed by the governor, and of the chief executive officers of the following agencies of state government:

The arts commission; the human rights commission; the board of accountancy; the board of pharmacy; the capitol historical association and museum; the eastern Washington historical society; the Washington state historical society; the interagency committee for outdoor recreation; the criminal justice training commission; the department of personnel; the state finance committee; the state library; the traffic safety commission; the horse racing commission; the commission for vocational education; the advisory council on vocational education; the public disclosure commission; the hospital commission; the state conservation commission; the commission on ((~~Mexican-American~~)) Hispanic affairs; the commission on Asian-American affairs; the state board for volunteer firemen; the urban arterial board; the data processing authority; the public employees relations commission; the forest practices appeals board; and the energy facilities site evaluation council.

The committee shall report to the governor or the chairperson of the appropriate salary fixing authority at least once in each fiscal biennium on such date as the governor may designate, but not later than seventy-five days prior to the convening of each regular session of the legislature during an odd-numbered year, its recommendations for the salaries to be fixed for each position.

(3) Committee members shall be reimbursed by the department of personnel for travel expenses under RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. A new section is added to chapter 43.131 RCW to read as follows:

The Washington state commission on Hispanic affairs and its powers and duties shall be terminated on June 30, 1996, as provided in section 9 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. A new section is added to chapter 43.131 RCW to read as follows:

The following acts or parts of acts, as now existing or hereafter amended, are each repealed, effective June 30, 1997:

(1) Section 1, chapter 34, Laws of 1971 ex. sess., section 1 of this act and RCW 43.115.010;

(2) Section 2, chapter 34, Laws of 1971 ex. sess., section 2 of this act and RCW 43.115.020;

(3) Section 3, chapter 34, Laws of 1971 ex. sess., section 130, chapter 34, Laws of 1975-'76 2nd ex. sess., section 15, chapter 338, Laws of 1981, section 3 of this act and RCW 43.115.030;

(4) Section 4, chapter 34, Laws of 1971 ex. sess., section 4 of this act and RCW 43.115.040;

(5) Section 5, chapter 34, Laws of 1971 ex. sess., section 5 of this act and RCW 43.115.050;

(6) Section 6, chapter 34, Laws of 1971 ex. sess., section 6 of this act and RCW 43.115.060; and

(7) Section 7, chapter 34, Laws of 1971 ex. sess. and RCW 43.115.900.