Legislative Bulletin Bill Room (360) 786-7573 Legislative Hot Line 1-800-562-6000 March 3, 2000 http://www.wacounties.org Bulletin #8 Reminder! If you have a student in your household who will be enrolled during the 2000/01 school year in a full-time baccalaureate, associate degree or vocational/technical certification program, get an application for a Washington Counties Scholarship NOW! Five $1500 awards will be given to children of county employees. April 3rd is the deadline! ************************************** BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS CONTROL FINAL WEEK OF LEGISLATURE The Legislature has begun the final week of the session and budget negotiations are underway. The details of each budget have not changed much this week, except that it was originally thought the Senate budget would be made public this week. Now it is reported that it will be out next Monday. This would indicate that House budget writers are trying to reach an agreement and the Senate is willing to wait a little longer. The problem is that there may not be enough time between Monday and Thursday to pass a final budget throwing them into a special session. A news article is attached to the back of this Legislative Bulletin summarizing the three budgets. In addition to the supplemental budgets and replacement of lost MVET, other important issues remain. The transportation budget is also subject to intense negotiations and will impact transit, ferries and road projects. It will be one of the final issues decided before adjournment. There is still hope for other bills of interest to counties in the final days. Shorelines, joint task force on county finances, individual insurance market, patients' bill of rights, pension reform and LEOFF I medical are all issues that remain to be resolved. ************************************** PENSION REFORM STILL ALIVE, SB 6530 Pension reform did not pass out of House Appropriations this week, but since it is a bill necessary to implement the budget it is exempt from the cut-off and still alive. The House proposed a striking amendment that will create a new PERS Plan 3 that allows new employees to choose between Plan 2 and Plan 3. If an employee doesn't make a choice they will default to Plan 3. The Plan 3 is a split plan with defined benefit and contribution portions. It still provides for a lower early retirement reduction factor, 3% rather than the current 8%, for those who are age 55 and have 30 years in the system. For LEOFF 2 employees the retirement age is lowered from age 55 to age 53. In addition, the early retirement reduction factor is lowered to 3% for those members who are at least age 50 with 25 or more years of service. The firefighters and police officers are trying to get the number of years reduced to 20, which would increase the cost of the benefit package. This provision is not in the striker, but may be offered as an amendment on the House floor. Finally, there is no provision for a Plan 3 for LEOFF members. The Association and the Association of Cities both testified that they could support the legislation if LEOFF I Medical, SB 6792,was also passed. This bill reduces the contribution rate for LEOFF I employees to zero, and also provides a study of the long-term care costs of LEOFF I members. It earmarks a minimum of $50 million to pay for long term care and extraordinary medical costs if the study shows that it will be allowed by the Internal Revenue Service. This bill has the potential of helping eliminate a very expensive liability for all local governments obligated to pay these costs. It is important to call members of the House and urge them to include passage of SB 6792 in any consideration of pension reform. ************************************** PROPERTY TAXES At the start of the legislative session, all four caucuses, and the Governor's Office stated that one of the priorities this session was to accomplish major property tax reform. Unless something significant happens in the next two weeks as part of the budget negotiations, it appears there will be very little to show the public as a result of this legislative session in regard to property taxes. The only major property tax bill that received any serious consideration was SJR 8212, the $200 property tax credit, which passed the Senate, but never received a hearing in the House and is technically dead. Senator Loveland is quoted in today's Tacoma News Tribune saying she is waiting for the House to vote on SJR 8212. The TNT reports: "My budget is predicated on that" said Loveland. "If they don't do that, I'd have to write another budget. I need to know what they are going to do on that - either up or down." The TNT also reports that Representative Huff and Representative Sommers, Co-Chairs of the House Appropriations Committee, agree on a constitutional amendment that would let property owners pay taxes based on a rolling four-year average of their property values. Governor Locke has already endorsed such a proposal. The TNT indicates that Senator Loveland's response is that the rolling average proposal is "not in the cards," and the Senate Democrats want their $200 property tax credit. Other Bills: On Monday, the House Finance Committee held the last hearing of the session and considered four property tax bills. SSB 6115, which reinstates the exemption from property tax for motor vehicles, travel trailers and campers, SB 6157, which lowers the population threshold for cities that are eligible for the 10-year property tax exemption program for multi-unit housing, (from 100,000 to 50,000) ESB 6250, granting sales tax credits and property tax exemptions for equipment used to reduce agricultural burning, and SSB 6724 which deals with the Hanford cleanup. ESB 6250 and SSB 6115 both passed out committee and are on the House calendar awaiting passage. Neither SB 6157 or SSB 6724 received a due pass, both are still in Finance and are technically dead for the session. ************************************** HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES ************************************** FINAL CUT-OFFS APPROACH FOR BILLS OF INTEREST IN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES The final cut-off is Friday, March 3 for bills from the opposite house. Many of the bills of interest in health and human services are continuing to move though a few died on Tuesday, Feb. 28 in the fiscal committees. Those that died include HB 2359, adjusting the nursing home reimbursement rate; HB 2364, implementing the federal work incentive act for disabled persons; HB 2462, the water quality monitoring bill; HB 2929, on-site sewage; and SB 5607, public retirees' health benefits. SB 5607 may be brought back to life since the individual market bill has come together. There are only a few bills of interest still in the two Rules Committees. These include SB 6207, regarding the sexually violent predator program run through DSHS. The rest of those bills that we are following are either on the floor calendar for a vote or have already moved out. The ones still on the floor calendar and needing a vote before the evening of March 3 include SB 6663, federally assisted housing; SB 6400, domestic violence enhancements; SB 6401, vulnerable adults; HB 2853, advisory council for the blind; HB 2670, landfill reserve account; SB 6199, patient's bill of rights; HB 2939/SB 6715, waste reduction and recycling; HB 3005, coronary care centers in rural areas; HB 6172, bone marrow donation; HB 6194, rural garbage dumping; SHJM 4020, special education students; SB 6260, controlled substance manufacture; and HB 2663, atypical antipsychotic medications. Some of the provisions in SB 6400, the domestic violence bill have also been hung on HB 2595 relating to protection orders and passed out of the Senate on March 2. The individual market bill, SB 6067, is also on the House Second Reading Calendar and anticipated passing out Friday, March 3. There continues to be work on HB 2663, the atypical bill to get it to satisfactory language for key stakeholders. It is now on the Senate Second Reading Calendar and expected to move March 3. Each version of HB 2663 both gets better and uncovers new complexities. But it is very close. SB 6375, the technical clean-up to the mentally ill offender bill, SB 6214, passed out of the House on March 2 without the House Judiciary Committee amendment. This is good news and thanks are due to those who explained to Rep. Constantine the difficulties inherent in the proposed amendment and thanks to him for being willing to change his mind. Selected bills of particular interest that have now passed both houses include SB 5805, enhanced prescriptive authority for ARNPs; HB 2454, support for family long-term caregivers; HB 2807, blended funding project authorization; HB 2675, child passenger restraint systems; HB 2031, allowing midwives to be the first contact for women's health care; HB 3005, enhanced ability to provide coronary care in rural areas; SB 6264, intermediate driver's licenses; SB 6349, water well delegation; HB 1218, nurse delegation; HB 2372, expanded authority for at-risk youth in contempt to do penalty in CRC's instead of detention; SB6502, long-term caregiver training, and SB 6487, the information exchange between mental health and DOC. ************************************** INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE BILL AGREED UPON (MOSTLY) With a bi-partisan Senate taking the lead, a compromise individual health insurance market bill has been fashioned. A large number of consumer advocacy groups, the state labor council, and the State Office of the Insurance Commissioner continue to have concerns about the bill. They maintain it has been slanted towards business and the insurance industry with little that will benefit the consumer. In the case of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, there is concern that the addition of the option to have an administrative law judge hear insurance disagreements undermines the operations of their office. Frankly, these issues may very well have merit, but the situation is perceived as so dire throughout the state that the vast majority of legislators feel this opening step is necessary to get the market functional again. The representative of the major insurers and health plans seemed to also indicate some remaining issues, but it is most people's understanding that the deal has been made and the bill is to move forward to the Governor's desk for signature unamended. It remains to be seen if this agreement holds in the two House caucuses where discussion will be quite lively. The two Senate sponsors, Sens. Thibaudeau and Deccio, Senate staff, Reps. Parlette and Cody, House staff, and the Governor's Office policy staff are to be commended for the hours of work dedicated to reaching this compromise proposal. The bill, E2SSB 6067, can be summarized as follows: 1. Pre-existing conditions - lengthened from three months to 9 months for individuals and small groups and expanded to 6 months for those in the Washington State Health Insurance Pool (commonly referred to as the high-risk pool). 2. Guaranteed access - individuals may be denied coverage by a carrier and may apply for and enroll in the high-risk pool if eligible according to a required health screen. 3. Portability - credit given toward pre-existing condition if moving between plans under certain conditions. 4. Guaranteed renewability - if same plan continues otherwise in any other plan offered by the carrier 5. Health plan premiums - expands the ability of the insurers to raise rates based on a lower retrospective loss ratio. 6. Changes to the high-risk pool - a. 8% of those with highest cost health conditions can be screened into the pool from the individual market; b. premiums are 150% of the average rate for comparable individual coverage and 125% for managed care plans, there are discounts for age and tenure in the pool or outside market, catastrophic plan created with premiums at 110% of comparable plans in the individual market c. maximum lifetime benefit raised to $1 million d. stop-loss insurers and the state employee Uniform Medical Plan added to those who contribute assessments toward the cost of the pool e. Board of Directors enlarged from 9 to 10 and Governor appoints instead of Insurance Commissioner f. Pre-existing condition waiting period lengthened from 3 months to 6 months 7. Basic Health Plan changes - contracting can be on a self-insured or fee for service basis in addition to capitated rate/managed care plans and eligibility expanded to 250% of the federal poverty level if funds are appropriated. 8. Legislative/Executive study - study by joint legislative/executive task force on impact of act and reinsurance with annual reports until 12/02. The die is now cast and the state's citizens and state and local government await the pledge of the health insurers to re-open the market. It is a virtual guarantee that the discussions regarding the state of health care here and elsewhere will continue. Rep. Campbell (R-Spanaway), in his Health Care Committee remarks, promised additional legislation in the future and made it clear he was voting for the bill very reluctantly. ************************************** TACOMA-PIERCE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT BEGINS MANDATORY TB REPORTING Effective March 1, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department will begin requiring doctors and pharmacists to report the name of every person who tests positive for tuberculosis or gets drugs to treat the illness. Currently state law only requires the reporting of those who have active TB. Officials at Tacoma-Pierce state that it is not because TB infections are increasing locally. Rather the goal is to beat back the respiratory disease before it can gain momentum. At the same time, the department will, for the first time, gather detailed information on TB's prevalence and trends. Not everyone is in support of gathering the additional information. The Pierce County AIDS Foundation is concerned about what they view as an unwarranted invasion of privacy and characterizes the data collections as "just another way for your name to be on a list at the Health Department." Approximately 35,000 people in Pierce County may be latent TB carriers. Only about 10% of these will go on to develop the active form of the disease. With proper treatment, TB is almost always curable. In 1998 there were 43 active cases in Pierce County. In 1999, the number was 37. Statewide 258 cases were reported. The director of infectious disease programs at the state DOH, Dr. Chris Spitters stated that TB is not a huge public health threat here in Washington but it does present a constant threat of becoming a bigger problem. The disease remains widespread and deadly around the world, actively infecting 8 million people each year and killing 3 million - more than any other infectious disease. Drug-resistant strains have also emerged. Pierce County eliminated its TB clinic in 1996, farming the work out to contract clinics. Since then, they haven't been able to track the disease as well. They hope the new rules will help them recapture some of that information. Mississippi has a similar requirement, but Pierce County may be the first local government in the country with such sweeping TB reporting. Spitters, DOH, says it will be a good pilot project for the rest of the state to see how it works. One of the concerns is that there is no enforcement tool to require doctors and pharmacists to report so the data will be incomplete. ************************************** ENVIRONMENT, LAND USE & RESOURCES ************************************** HOUSE PROPOSES TO DIMINISH ROLE OF SALMON RECOVERY FUNDING BOARD IN SUPPLEMENTAL CAPITAL BUDGET On March 1, the House Capital Budget Committee referred SHB 2381 to the House Rules Committee with a Do Pass recommendation. SHB 2381 lays out the proposed Supplemental Capital Budget for the House, with provisions related to general government, natural resources, and education. SHB 2381 contains three significant proposals that, if passed, will directly affect salmon recovery efforts in Washington State. First, the proposal reduces and reallocates a portion of $30.8 million currently under the discretionary control of the Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRF Board). Under SHB 2381, funds for the SRF Board will be reduced from $30.8 million to $18.5 million, a $12.3 million reduction. Second, SHB 2381 proposes to shift the $12.3 million removed from the SRF Board account into specific state agency programs and activities. The bill allocates this money between the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Conservation Commission, Department of Agriculture, and Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation. Specific allocations include the following: The Department of Fish and Wildlife will receive $100,000 to implement bycatch reduction strategies; $2 million for water data collection, water rights purchase, and salmon screening in the Methow River Valley; $950,000 for lead entity grants; $880,000 for contracted engineering services relating to local salmon recovery efforts; and $5,000,000 for a commercial salmon license buyback program. The State Conservation Commission will receive $1 million for grants to the Columbia ground water management area for irrigation water management and for public health information. The Department of Agriculture will receive $150,000 for the agriculture, fish, and water negotiation process. Finally, the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation will receive $250,000 for a Geographic Information System strategic plan and $2 million for mitigation of impacts of transportation projects on salmon habitat. The third significant proposal of SHB 2381 is to reduce the discretionary authority of the SRF Board. Currently, the SRF Board maintains relatively broad discretionary authority to review and prioritize salmon restoration proposals as well as determine and provide appropriate funding. Such activities may presently include habitat modification projects, planning activities, data collection, or other activities that the Board deems to be worthy of funding and within its scope of authority. SHB 2381 proposes to restrict this authority by limiting most SRF Board funding activity to include only fish passage barrier correction, fish screens, habitat modification projects, and riparian easement purchase. SHB 2381 contains provisions that are substantially similar to the 1999 Capital Budget, 2E2SSB 5595, which attempted to limit the discretionary authority of the SRF Board and allocate funds for specific projects and activities. Governor Locke vetoed those specific provisions from the budget, believing them to be contrary to the intent and purpose behind the formation of the SRF Board. ************************************** SHORELINE MANAGEMENT RULES AND TIMELINES REMAIN IN DISPUTE With the clock ticking away on the legislative session, no compromise proposal to gain the magical 76 votes for shorelines management appears on the horizon. Environmental lobbyists insist on adoption of strong rules with no delay in implementation (some will accede to a staggered three-to-five year schedule) and business lobbyists want to delay rule adoption until the Legislature can review the rules, in the broad context of ESA response and needs. Both WSAC and Representative Mark Doumit (D-Wahkiakum County) have separately floated proposals which involve some adoption, some delay and a review of the process in a broader context. The Locke administration appears to be moving in that direction, but the environmental community and business community remain firm. If no legislation is enacted by the end of session, every county and city in the state will be required to adopt revised shoreline master programs within two years after Ecology adopts a new rule - which is expected to happen in July. ************************************** WELL DRILLING DELEGATION PASSES LEGISLATURE Substitute Senate Bill 6349 has passed the Legislature and is on its way to the Governor. The bill continues the authority for the Department of Ecology to delegate its well inspection program at the request of a county health department or a health district. Many counties and health districts operate a well inspection program with funds from Ecology and local fees. A sunset provision limiting the delegation authority for only six years is set forth in a separate section of the bill and could be vetoed. The effect of such a veto would be to permanently authorize the delegation authority. ************************************** LAW & JUSTICE ************************************** HOUSE PASSES EMINENT DOMAIN BILL With just a minor amendment, the House has passed SB 6190, which would put counties on an equal footing with cities and the state for eminent domain proceedings. Because of court congestion, it is now very difficult to get a court date for the compensation trial, and county eminent domain proceedings often are delayed for up to three years, resulting in additional costs to the counties due to inflation and changing permit requirements. The laws governing eminent domain proceedings for cities and for state highway purposes have long given precedence to these cases over other court cases not involving criminal prosecutions or other public interests. This bill would apply the same precedence for county eminent domain proceedings. In addition, the House amendment creates a legislative study group to evaluate eminent domain laws and ways to expedite resolution of public use disputes in eminent domain proceedings. While the Senate has already approved the underlying bill, it needs to concur on the House amendment. ************************************** COUNTIES GAIN OPTION TO IMPOSE ARBITRATION FEE Lawmakers have voted to allow local legislative authorities to impose a filing fee up to $120 for mandatory arbitration, to be used solely in support of arbitration programs. EHB 2713 passed the House 79-17 and the Senate 32-12. The fee is optional, and may be adopted only where a county already imposes mandatory arbitration. If Initiative 695 restrictions are determined to apply to this fee, then it also must be approved by public vote. State law currently allows any superior court, by majority vote of its judges, to adopt mandatory arbitration in prescribed cases. In counties with 70,000 or more population, the county legislative body also may impose arbitration. ************************************** TRANSPORTATION ************************************** LAWMAKERS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVE SMALL WORKS ROSTER ENHANCEMENTS The Legislature this week passed SSB 6347, which reduces the administrative burden of the small works roster and gives local governments more flexibility. The measure passed the House 97-0 and the Senate 48-0, and the governor is expected to sign it without delay. The bill creates a uniform $200,000 small-works-roster threshold for all units of state government and the following units of local government: Counties, cities, towns, community and technical colleges, county roads, fire districts, higher education, housing authorities, port districts, hospital districts, utility districts, school districts and water-sewer districts. These entities must solicit contractors to put their names on a general or specialty list at least once a year. In the past, local governments were required to solicit contractors twice per year. And a list of contracts awarded must be posted at least once a year, rather than bimonthly as previously required. The bill also requires the Department of Community Trade and Economic Development to prepare a small-works-roster manual in cooperation with the Municipal Research and Services Center. ************************************** LEGISLATIVE UPDATES ************************************** Real Estate Appraisers/Commission: SSB 5924 was heard in House Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee. This bill establishes a commission to oversee the licensing of real estate appraisers. Scott Noble asked the committee to amend the bill so one of the commission members would have to have a mass appraisal background. The committee agreed. The bill was amended and passed the House today. Now, the Senate must concur with the amendment and send it to the Governor. Indian Housing Authority Exemption: E2SHB 2109 is on the Senate calendar and it appears that it will pass this session. Law Enforcement Study: 2SSB 6369, the Senate bill directing the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) to conduct a law enforcement study, died in the House Appropriations Committee. Law Enforcement Sound Recording: SHB 2903, is on the Senate calendar awaiting action. Manufactured Homes/Escrow: SHB 2872, establishing escrow procedures for the sale of manufactured homes, died with last week's cutoff in the Senate Commerce, Trade, Housing and Financial Institutions Committee. Treasurer Services for Conservation Districts: SHB 2348, authorizing conservation districts to designate their own treasurer, is in the Senate Rules Committee and its fate is unknown at this time. ************************************** WACO PRIORITY BILL - SHB 2392 SHB 2392, Joint local government task force, was passed out of the Senate earlier this week and has and needs concurrence in the House of Representatives. SHB 2392 would finally focus on local government funding and delivery of services. All WACO members are urged to call all Representatives and urge swift passage of SHB 2392! ************************************** WINNING WEEK FOR COUNTY CLERKS County clerks can celebrate the passage of four bills this week. HB 2328, Lowering anti-harassment filing fees; HB 2329, Judgment summaries and property descriptions; SSB 6154, County clerks accepting credit cards (with the County Treasurers' amendment); and SSB 6244, Extending juvenile court jurisdiction for the collection of penalty assessments, all passed out of the opposite houses. County clerks will be advised when the Governor's office schedules them for signing. ************************************** FOR CORONERS, MEDICAL EXAMINERS, SHERIFFS AND PROSECUTORS HB 2330, Rerouting liquor license monies for support of the State Toxicology Laboratory, a fix to last year's merger of the State Toxicology Laboratory and State Patrol Crime Laboratory, has been lingering in Senate Rules for days now. The bill doesn't appear to have any specific problems but for insurance sake, please contact all your Senators and let them know HB 2330 is a good "no new money" bill and we need it! SHB 2476, Child death investigations, failed to move out of the Senate Judiciary Committee last week in advance of the cutoff. The prime sponsor, Representative Kathy Lambert, is continuing her efforts to revive the bill by offering it as an amendment to other legislation. ************************************** OF INTEREST TO SHERIFFS E2SSB 6683, Racial profiling of traffic stops, has passed the House. The amended bill requires the Washington State Patrol (WSP) only to collect statistics but has directed the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) to work to with WSP to develop further collection criteria and report back to the legislature by December 1, 2000. SSB 6467, Vehicle license fraud, passed the House this week effectively deleting all the 1999 fraud legislation, and reinstating the law as it was prior to July 1, 1999. ************************************** BILLS OF INTEREST TO AUDITORS ESSB 6363 is on the House floor calendar. The bill had been held up in House Rules despite our efforts to get it pulled. The messages we were receiving was the bill was on hold. It would appear that perhaps there has been resolution on this bill. Please let your House members know how important this bill is to you and to your constituents. If the bill passes the House it will have to return to the Senate for concurrence. SB 6274, relating to replacement ballots, also appears to have died. The language in this bill is included in ESSB 6363. Making a surprise come back: SB 6304. This bill repeals the provisions in RCW 43.16.233, which requires the replacement of vehicle license plates every seven years. The bill died in Senate Transportation Committee originally, but was then resurrected on February 29 and passed the Senate. The bill has not been sent to the House. Also dealing with the issuance of replacement plates is SB 6667, which clarifies the language in RCW 43.16.233. The amended language makes it clear that vehicles over 26,000 pounds are not subject to the provision of vehicle plate replacement every seven years. 2SSJR 8205 is also dead. The bill provided for a constitutional amendment, to be voted on by the people, and would require a geographic distribution of initiative signatures gathered for placing an initiative measure on the ballot. No one congressional district could have more than one-sixth the total number of signatures required in order for the measure to be placed on the ballot. ************************************** WSAC DISTRICT MEETINGS ************************************** WSAC DISTRICT MEETING REGISTRATIONS MAILED The registration forms and room reservation information for both the Western and Eastern District meetings has been mailed to all members and affiliate members. Please reserve your rooms at the appropriate hotel and send the registration forms to the Association as soon as possible. The agendas of each meeting are being developed and will include presentations on Impacts of I-695 and reports from counties regarding their responses. There will be discussions on the Endangered Species Act and what the implication of the definition of "Take" is and infrastructure impacts caused by breaching Snake River dams. There will also be presentations on the future of our highways, transit, ferries, rail and air transportation systems. The host counties, Whatcom and Asotin have also arranged for an outstanding Thursday evening event that you won't want to miss. In Bellingham, there will be a dinner cruise of the Bellingham Bay area with a presentation by Representative Kelli Linville on the efforts to clean up the pollution in the bay. In Clarkston, there will be a jet boat trip up the Snake River to Heller Bar for a barbecue dinner and will feature a presentation on the multiple uses of the Columbia/Snake Rivers. A copy of the registration information is attached to the back of this Bulletin. ************************************** WORKSHOPS & CONFERENCES ************************************** DCTED TO HOLD HEARINGS ON BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE AND CONSISTENCY RULES Workshop/hearings are now underway on the proposed rules by the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development addressing best available science and project consistency. With one workshop already done, three more will take place during March. Each starts at 6:30 p.m. with CTED staff presenting an overview of the Best Available Science rule and another rule on project consistency. The public hearings on Best Available Science will begin at 7:00 p.m. and the hearings on consistency will begin at 8:00 p.m. The remaining workshop/hearings take place at the following locations: March 14 - Seattle Center, Center House Conf Room G March 28 - Hal Holmes Community Center, 201 N. Ruby St., Ellensburg March 29 - Eastern Washington University, Riverpoint Campus, 668 N. Riverpoint Boulevard, Spokane ************************************** COMING EVENTS ************************************** March 3-7 National Association of Counties' (NACo) Annual Legislative Conference, Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington, D.C. 27-31 Washington State Association of Coroners' and Medical Examiners' Spring Training, "Basic Death Investigation," Criminal Justice Training Center, Burien. 28-30 Washington State Association of Sheriffs' and Oregon State Association of Sheriffs' Annual Joint Meeting, Red Lion, Port Angeles. April 5-7 WSAC Western District Meeting, Best Western Lakeway Inn & Conference Center, Bellingham. 9-15 National County Government week. 17-19 County Auditors' Elections Conference, Campbell's Resort, Chelan. 19-21 WSAC Eastern District Meeting, Clarkston, Quality Inn. 26-28 County Clerks' Spring Conference, Icicle Inn, Leavenworth. 26-28 County Prosecuting Attorneys' Annual Spring Training Program, Cavanaugh's Gateway, Yakima. ************************************** RAMBLINGS ************************************** Our thoughts and prayers are with Kathie Houts, WACO Administrative Assistant, whose father, Jack Terp, passed away on Tuesday. She is in California with her family, and services are being held today, March 3rd. * * * * * Dr. Alonzo Plough, director of Public Health, has appointed Dr. Richard Harruff the King County Chief Medical Examiner for Seattle and King County, effective February 16. Dr. Harruff has been the Acting Medical Examiner since last July when Dr. Donald Reay retired. He has been working as the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner since June 1993 and has previous forensic pathology experience in Indiana and Tennessee. In King County, Dr. Harruff has been instrumental in the office's forensic pathology residency program, child death review, research in numerous violence reduction and injury prevention topics, and promoting excellent relationships with Public Health, law enforcement and other community partners. * * * * * Kitsap County Prosecutor Russ Hauge was reconfirmed by the Senate, Thursday, to his second term on the Sentencing Guidelines Commission. * * * * * Pierce County Assessor/Treasurer Barbara Gelman has announced that she will run for Pierce County Council, District #3. Gelman previously served on the County Council from 1984 through 1992, when she was elected to the position of Assessor/Treasurer. ************************************** JOBS ************************************** GRANT COORDINATOR - LEWIS COUNTY seeks an individual to administer the Lewis County grant program. Will identify grant funding sources, write and submit grant applications. Prepare reports of funded projects as required by funding sources. Develop and monitor accurate budget information, act as a resource to other county departments concerning grant requirements and cost principles. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's Degree in Business, Public Administration, Urban Planning, Finance or related field. Experience in municipal grant writing preferred. Salary: $39,480 - $47,120 - Closing Date: March 17, 2000. Application packets available from and must be submitted to Lewis County Administration Office, 360 NW North Street, Chehalis, WA 98532. Telephone (360) 740-1419, TDD (360) 740- 1480. Lewis County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ***** KITSAP COUNTY BUDGET MANAGER, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES - Salary $3839.33 to $4900.13/month (This position is currently under salary review). Opening Date: March 6, 2000, Closing Date: March 31, 2000 at 4:30 p.m. Application packets are available in the personnel office. The following items are required: Completed original Kitsap County application form, supplemental questionnaire, resume, if you would like your technical school or college level education considered, you must attach copies of transcripts or certificate/diploma, application must be received by the personnel office prior to 4:30 p.m. on March 31, 2000. Postmarks will not be accepted. An employee in this position plans, organizes and manages the development and control activities of the Kitsap County budget, including Public Works. The employee is responsible for conducting analyses of specific fiscal projects and researching and analyzing emerging financial issues. The incumbent also develops operating and capital budgets, performs financial analysis and management reporting, develops and implements short and long term cash management policies and assists in planning, organizing and managing short and long term debt financing. Work is performed under administrative direction, and is assigned in terms of broad general objectives. The incumbent is given considerable latitude for independent judgement, initiative and resourcefulness on both technical and administrative matters, in adapting existing policies and precedents to specific situations and in developing new or improved techniques and methods of obtaining effective results and overcoming unusual problems. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in business or public administration, communications, or closely related field, MBA preferred, and five years of progressively responsible professional/administrative experience in fiscal management, government financial administration, or accounting, including two years of supervisory or management responsibilities; or any equivalent combination of experience and education which provides the applicant with the desired skills, knowledge and ability required to perform the work. Special Qualifications: Certified Public Accountant License is preferred. Kitsap County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For further information contact Kitsap County Courthouse, 614 Division Street, MS- 23, Port Orchard, WA 98366-4676, telephone (360) 337-7185 Extension 0. **** END ****