Section 417-01-155 - Conduct of commission business(1) Three voting members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business.(2) The votes of any three of the commissioners shall be required for any official action of the commission: Provided, That the executive director shall have the authority on behalf of the commission to execute contracts and leases, and approve expenditures and reimbursements, related to the business of the commission. The executive director may, without the prior approval of the commission, authorize expenditures not to exceed $30,000. Expenditures made pursuant to this section shall be reported as a separate item on the agenda at the next commission meeting.(3) The chair shall not have a vote at any meeting of the commission.(4) Commission meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act (chapter 42.30 RCW).(5) The commission shall not adopt any redistricting plan, or partial redistricting plan, except at a public meeting, notice of which has been given in accordance with these rules.(6) The commission shall not take any action by secret ballot.(7) Motions shall not require a second in order to be placed before the commission for a vote.(8) All public meetings of the commission shall be electronically recorded. The minutes and tapes thereof shall be available to the public in accordance with the rules regarding access to public records held by the commission. At all meetings of the commission where public testimony regarding redistricting boundaries is a scheduled agenda item, the commission shall provide for the presence of a court reporter to record such testimony. A typewritten transcript of such testimony shall be prepared as soon as possible after such hearings and shall be made available to the public in accordance with the rules regarding access to public records held by the commission. The transcript of a court reporter prepared pursuant to this section shall become part of the official records of the commission.(9) Except as provided in this section, the chair shall preside at all meetings. In the event of the chair's absence the commission shall select from among the voting members a temporary chair to preside in the chair's absence. The position of temporary chair shall alternate between a member of the two parties represented on the commission.(10) The commission may not convene a public meeting and then recess to enable members to deliberate among themselves, except for those matters permitted under RCW 42.30.110 for executive session.(11) The commission may not vote on the adoption of a final re-districting plan in private. The commission may not negotiate an agreed-upon framework for a final redistricting plan in private.(12) Before the commission considers any motion to approve a final redistricting plan, the commission shall make publicly available the plan that is the subject of the motion, including of the congressional and legislative district maps that depict the boundaries contemplated by the motion.(13) Any final redistricting plan approved in conformance with Article II, section 43(6) of the state Constitution shall include, at the time of any vote to approve the plan, completed final maps showing the division of the state into congressional or legislative districts and complete descriptions of each district using official census units such as tracts and blocks.(14) The commission shall open for comment by members any motion to approve a final redistricting plan prior to voting on the motion.Wash. Admin. Code § 417-01-155
Amended by WSR 21-13-142, Filed 6/22/2021, effective 7/23/2021Amended by WSR 22-12-052, Filed 5/26/2022, effective 6/26/2022Statutory Authority: RCW 44.05.080(2). 11-15-010, § 417-01-155, filed 7/7/11, effective 8/7/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 44.05.080(1). 01-13-123, § 417-01-155, filed 6/20/01, effective 7/9/01; 91-20-006, § 417-01-155, filed 9/19/91, effective 10/20/91.