The legislature finds that equitable public policy discussions should include individuals directly impacted by that policy. In order to do so, the legislature supports removing barriers to that participation. The legislature finds that asking community members with lower financial means to volunteer their time and expertise while state employees and representatives of advocacy organizations receive compensation from their respective agency or organization for their time and experience ultimately hinders full and open public participation. As a result, the legislature finds that removing financial barriers for those individuals fosters increased access to government and enriches public policy discussions and decisions, ultimately leading to more equitable and sustainable policy outcomes.
This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 43.03. Here is the modified chapter for context.
By December 1, 2022, the office of equity shall develop uniform equity-driven guidelines for agencies on the issuance of stipends and allowances authorized under RCW 43.03.220 to provide for consistent application of the law. In developing the guidelines, the office of equity shall consult with stakeholders including, but not limited to, state agencies and impacted communities. The guidelines for providing allowances must include the reasonable allowances as prescribed by the office of financial management under RCW 43.03.050.
Agencies exercising their authority under RCW 43.03.220 to provide stipends or allowances to members of class one groups shall adhere to the guidelines established under subsection (1) of this section.
This section modifies existing section 28A.300.802. Here is the modified chapter for context.
In addition to any board, commission, council, committee, or other similar group established by statute or executive order, the superintendent of public instruction may appoint advisory groups on subject matters within the superintendent's responsibilities or as may be required by any federal legislation as a condition to the receipt of federal funds by the federal department. The advisory groups shall be constituted as required by federal law or as the superintendent may determine.
Members of advisory groups under the authority of the superintendent may be paid their travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
Except as provided in this section or as authorized by RCW 43.03.220, members of advisory groups under the authority of the superintendent are volunteering their services and are not eligible for compensation. A person is eligible to receive compensation in an amount not to exceed one hundred dollars for each day during which the member attends an official meeting of the group or performs statutorily prescribed duties approved by the chairperson of the group if the person (1) occupies a position, normally regarded as full-time in nature, as a certificated employee of a local school district; (2) is participating as part of their employment with the local school district; and (3) the meeting or duties are performed outside the period in which school days as defined by RCW 28A.150.030 are conducted. The superintendent may reimburse local school districts for substitute certificated employees to enable members to meet or perform duties on school days. A person is eligible to receive compensation from federal funds in an amount to be determined by personal service contract for groups required by federal law.
This section modifies existing section 43.03.050. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The director of financial management shall prescribe reasonable allowances to cover reasonable and necessary subsistence and lodging expenses for elective and appointive officials and state employees while engaged on official business away from their designated posts of duty. The director of financial management may prescribe and regulate the allowances provided in lieu of subsistence and lodging expenses and may prescribe the conditions under which reimbursement for subsistence and lodging may be allowed. The schedule of allowances adopted by the office of financial management may include special allowances for foreign travel and other travel involving higher than usual costs for subsistence and lodging. The allowances established by the director shall not exceed the rates set by the federal government for federal employees. However, during the 2003-05 fiscal biennium, the allowances for any county that is part of a metropolitan statistical area, the largest city of which is in another state, shall equal the allowances prescribed for that larger city.
Those persons appointed to serve without compensation on any state board, commission, or committee, if entitled to payment of travel expenses, shall be paid pursuant to special per diem rates prescribed in accordance with subsection (1) of this section by the office of financial management.
The director of financial management may prescribe reasonable allowances to cover reasonable expenses for meals, coffee, and light refreshment served to elective and appointive officials and state employees regardless of travel status at a meeting where: (a) The purpose of the meeting is to conduct official state business or to provide formal training to state employees or state officials; (b) the meals, coffee, or light refreshment are an integral part of the meeting or training session; (c) the meeting or training session takes place away from the employee's or official's regular workplace; and (d) the agency head or authorized designee approves payments in advance for the meals, coffee, or light refreshment. In order to prevent abuse, the director may regulate such allowances and prescribe additional conditions for claiming the allowances.
Upon approval of the agency head or authorized designee, an agency may serve coffee or light refreshments at a meeting where: (a) The purpose of the meeting is to conduct state business or to provide formal training that benefits the state; and (b) the coffee or light refreshment is an integral part of the meeting or training session. The director of financial management shall adopt requirements necessary to prohibit abuse of the authority authorized in this subsection.
The director of financial management shall prescribe reasonable allowances to cover reasonable and necessary child and adult care expenses incurred by eligible members of a class one board, commission, council, committee, or similar group, who are authorized under RCW 43.03.220 to receive such allowances, while attending an official meeting or performing statutorily prescribed duties approved by the chairperson of the group.
The schedule of allowances prescribed by the director under the terms of this section and any subsequent increases in any maximum allowance or special allowances for areas of higher than usual costs shall be reported to the ways and means committees of the house of representatives and the senate at each regular session of the legislature.
No person designated as a member of a class one through class three or class five board, commission, council, committee, or similar group may receive an allowance for subsistence, lodging, or travel expenses if the allowance cost is funded by the state general fund**, unless authorized under RCW 43.03.220 or granted an exception** under RCW 43.03.049.
This section modifies existing section 43.03.060. Here is the modified chapter for context.
Whenever it becomes necessary for elective or appointive officials or employees of the state to travel away from their designated posts of duty while engaged on official business, and it is found to be more advantageous or economical to the state that travel be by a privately-owned vehicle rather than a common carrier or a state-owned or operated vehicle, a mileage rate established by the director of financial management shall be allowed. The mileage rate established by the director shall not exceed any rate set by the United States treasury department above which the substantiation requirements specified in Treasury Department Regulations section 1.274-5T(a)(1), as now law or hereafter amended, will apply.
The director of financial management may prescribe and regulate the specific mileage rate or other allowance for the use of privately-owned vehicles or common carriers on official business and the conditions under which reimbursement of transportation costs may be allowed. The reimbursement or other payment for transportation expenses of any employee or appointive official of the state shall be based on the method deemed most advantageous or economical to the state.
The mileage rate established by the director of financial management pursuant to this section and any subsequent changes thereto shall be reported to the ways and means committees of the house of representatives and the senate at each regular session of the legislature.
No person designated as a member of a class one through class three or class five board, commission, council, committee, or similar group may receive an allowance for subsistence, lodging, or travel expenses if the allowance cost is funded by the state general fund**, unless authorized under RCW 43.03.220 or granted an exception** under RCW 43.03.049.
This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 43.03. Here is the modified chapter for context.
An agency exercising its authority to provide stipends under RCW 43.03.220(2) must report to the Washington state office of equity by August 30, 2023, and August 30, 2024, for state fiscal years 2023 and 2024 respectively, the following information:
A brief description of the groups for which stipends have been made available including:
Number of members receiving a stipend or allowance; and
Aggregate demographic information of members of class one groups including race, ethnicity, income, and geographic representation by county;
The amount of stipends distributed;
The amount of allowances distributed;
An analysis of whether and how the availability of stipends and allowances has reduced barriers to participation and increased the diversity of group participants; and
An analysis of whether the provision of stipends and allowances resulted in more applications and willingness to participate.
The Washington state office of equity shall:
Compile and analyze the information received from agencies under this section; and
Prepare a report, in compliance with RCW 43.01.036, to the governor and legislature by December 1, 2024. The report must include:
An overall evaluation of the stipend process authorized in RCW 43.03.220(2);
Recommendations for improving the process; and
Recommendations to further decrease barriers to participation and increase the diversity of group applicants.
This section modifies existing section 41.40.035. Here is the modified chapter for context.
No person appointed to membership on any committee, board, or commission on or after July 1, 1976, who is compensated for service on such committee, board, or commission for fewer than ten days or seventy hours in any month, whichever amount is less, shall receive service credit for such service for that month: PROVIDED, That on and after October 1, 1977, appointive and elective officials who receive monthly compensation earnable from an employer in an amount equal to or less than ninety times the state minimum hourly wage shall not receive any service credit for such employment.
No person appointed on or after the effective date of this subsection to membership on any committee, board, or commission described in RCW 43.03.220 may receive service credit for service on such committee, board, or commission due to the payment of a stipend or allowance as authorized under RCW 43.03.220.
This section does not apply to any person serving on a committee, board, or commission on June 30, 1976, who continued such service until subsequently appointed by the governor to a different committee, board, or commission.