RCW 36.70A.250 Growth management hearings board—Creation—Members.

(1) A growth management hearings board for the state of Washington is created. The board shall consist of seven members qualified by experience or training in matters pertaining to land use law or land use planning and who have experience in the practical application of those matters. All seven board members shall be appointed by the governor, two each residing respectively in the central Puget Sound, eastern Washington, and western Washington regions, plus one board member residing within the state of Washington. At least three members of the board shall be admitted to practice law in this state, one each residing respectively in the central Puget Sound, eastern Washington, and western Washington regions. At least three members of the board shall have been a city or county elected official, one each residing respectively in the central Puget Sound, eastern Washington, and western Washington regions. After expiration of the terms of board members on the previously existing three growth management hearings boards, no more than four members of the seven-member board may be members of the same major political party. No more than two members at the time of their appointment or during their term may reside in the same county.

(2) Each member of the board shall be appointed for a term of six years. A vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the governor for the unexpired portion of the term in which the vacancy occurs. Members of the previously existing three growth management hearings boards appointed before July 1, 2010, shall complete their staggered, six-year terms as members of the growth management hearings board created under subsection (1) of this section. The reduction from nine board members on the previously existing three growth management hearings boards to seven total members on the growth management hearings board shall be made through attrition, voluntary resignation, or retirement.

[ 2010 c 211 § 4; 1994 c 249 § 29; 1991 sp.s. c 32 § 5.]

NOTES:

Effective date—2010 c 211: "This act takes effect July 1, 2010." [ 2010 c 211 § 18.]

Transfer of power, duties, and functions—2010 c 211: "(1) The three growth management hearings boards are abolished and their powers, duties, and functions are transferred to the growth management hearings board.

(2) All reports, documents, surveys, books, records, files, papers, or written material in the possession of the three growth management hearings boards must be delivered to the custody of the growth management hearings board. All office furnishings, office equipment, motor vehicles, and other tangible property in the possession of the three growth management hearings boards must be made available to the growth management hearings board.

(3) All funds, credits, or other assets held by the three growth management hearings boards must, on July 1, 2010, be transferred to the growth management hearings board. Any appropriations made to the three growth management hearings boards must, on July 1, 2010, be transferred and credited to the growth management hearings board. If any question arises as to the transfer of any personnel, funds, books, documents, records, papers, files, equipment, or other tangible property used or held in the exercise of the powers and the performance of the duties and functions transferred, the director of financial management shall make a determination as to the proper allocation and certify the same to the state agencies concerned.

(4) All employees of the three growth management hearings boards are transferred to the growth management hearings board. All employees classified under chapter 41.06 RCW, the state civil service law, are assigned to the growth management hearings board to perform their usual duties upon the same terms as formerly, without any loss of rights, subject to any action that may be appropriate thereafter in accordance with the laws and rules governing state civil service.

(5) This section may not be construed to alter any existing collective bargaining unit or the provisions of any existing collective bargaining agreement until the agreement has expired or until the bargaining unit has been modified by action of the public employment relations commission as provided by law.

(6) All rules and pending business before the three growth management hearings boards must be continued and acted upon by the growth management hearings board. All existing contracts and obligations remain in full force and must be performed by the growth management hearings board.

(7) The transfer of the powers, duties, functions, and personnel of the three growth management hearings boards to the growth management hearings board does not affect the validity of any act performed before July 1, 2010.

(8) All cases decided and all orders previously issued by the three growth management hearings boards remain in full force and effect and are not affected by this act." [ 2010 c 211 § 17.]

Severability—Application—1994 c 249: See notes following RCW 34.05.310.