County weed boards

AN ACT Relating to the geographic composition of county weed 1
boards; and amending RCW 17.10.050. 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
Sec. 1. RCW 17.10.050 and 2021 c 217 s 3 are each amended to 4
read as follows: 5
(1) Each activated county noxious weed control board consists of 6
five voting members appointed by the county legislative authority in 7
the manner prescribed in this section. In appointing the voting 8
members, the county legislative authority shall divide the county 9
into ((five)) four geographical areas that best represent the 10
county's interests, and appoint a voting member from each 11
geographical area and one at large member . At least three of the 12
voting members shall be engaged in the primary production of 13
agricultural products. There is one nonvoting member on the board who 14
is the director of the county extension office or an extension agent 15
appointed by the director of the county extension office. Each voting 16
member of the board serves a term of four years, except that the 17
county legislative authority shall, when a board is first activated 18
under this chapter, designate two voting members to serve terms of 19
two years. The board members shall not receive a salary but shall be 20
S-0201.2
SENATE BILL 5018
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senator J. Wilson
Prefiled 12/09/24.
p. 1 SB 5018
compensated for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the 1
performance of their official duties. 2
(2)(a) The voting members of the board serve until their 3
replacements are appointed. New members of the board shall be 4
appointed at least ((thirty)) 30 days prior to the expiration of any 5
board member's term of office. 6
(b) Notice of expiration of a term of office shall be published 7
at least twice in a weekly or daily newspaper of general circulation 8
in the geographical area with last publication occurring at least 9
((ten)) 10 days prior to the nomination , or by posting on the 10
district's website at least 10 days prior to the nomination . All 11
persons interested in appointment to the board and residing in the 12
geographical area with a pending nomination shall make a written 13
application ((that includes the signatures of at least ten registered 14
voters residing in the geographical area supporting the nomination )) 15
to the county noxious weed control board. After nominations close, 16
the county noxious weed control board shall, after a hearing, send 17
the applications to the county legislative authority recommending the 18
names of the most qualified candidates, and post the names of those 19
nominees in the county courthouse or county website ((and publish in 20
at least one newspaper of general circulation in the county )). The 21
county legislative authority, within 60 days of receiving the list of 22
nominees, shall appoint one of those nominees to the county noxious 23
weed control board to represent that geographical area during that 24
term of office. If the county legislative authority fails to appoint 25
a nominee within the 60-day period and a quorum of the board is not 26
seated, the county noxious weed control board shall appoint a nominee 27
only to meet a quorum, who shall serve in that capacity until the 28
county legislative authority appoints a nominee to fill the vacant 29
position in the manner prescribed in this section. Not more than 30
three board members may be appointed in this manner.31
(3) Within ((thirty)) 30 days after all the members have been 32
appointed, the board shall conduct its first meeting. A majority of 33
the voting members of the board constitutes a quorum for the 34
transaction of business and is necessary for any action taken by the 35
board. The board shall elect from its members a chair and other 36
officers as may be necessary. 37
p. 2 SB 5018
(4) In case of a vacancy, the position must be filled in the 1
manner prescribed in this section. 2
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p. 3 SB 5018