WASHINGTON STATUTES AND CODES

43.336.020 - Commission created -- Composition -- Terms -- Executive director -- Rule-making authority.

Commission created — Composition — Terms — Executive director — Rule-making authority.

(1) The Washington tourism commission is created.

     (2) The commission shall be cochaired by the director of the department or the director's designee, and by an industry-member representative who is elected by the commission members.

     (3) The commission shall have nineteen members. In appointing members, the governor shall endeavor to balance the geographic and demographic composition of the commission to include members with special expertise from tourism organizations, local jurisdictions, and small businesses directly engaged in tourism-related activities. Before making appointments to the Washington tourism commission, the governor shall consider nominations from recognized organizations that represent the entities or interests identified in this section. Commission members shall be appointed by the governor as follows:

     (a) Three members to represent the lodging industry, at least two of which shall be chosen from a list of three nominees per position submitted by the state's largest lodging industry trade association. Members should represent all property categories and different regions of the state;

     (b) Three representatives from nonprofit destination marketing organizations or visitor and convention bureaus;

     (c) Three industry representatives from the arts, entertainment, attractions, or recreation industry;

     (d) Four private industry representatives, two from each of the business categories in this subsection:

     (i) The food, beverage, and wine industries; and

     (ii) The travel and transportation industries;

     (e) Four legislative members, one from each major caucus of the senate, designated by the president of the senate, and one from each major caucus of the house of representatives, designated by the speaker of the house of representatives;

     (f) The chair of the Washington convention and trade center; and

     (g) The director or the director's designee.

     (4)(a) Terms of nonlegislative members shall be three years, except that initial terms shall be staggered such that terms of one-third of the initial members shall expire each year.

     (b) Terms of legislative members shall be two years.

     (c) Vacancies shall be appointed in the same manner as the original appointment.

     (d) A member appointed by the governor may not be absent from more than fifty percent of the regularly scheduled meetings in any one calendar year. Any member who exceeds this absence limitation is deemed to have withdrawn from the office and may be replaced by the governor.

     (5) Members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

     (6) The commission shall meet at least four times per year, but may meet more frequently as necessary.

     (7) A majority of members currently appointed constitutes a quorum.

     (8) Staff support shall be provided by the department, and staff shall report to the executive director.

     (9) The director, in consultation with the commission, shall appoint an executive director.

     (10) The commission may adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW as necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.