A bill sponsored by Rep. Rep. Brad Hawkins, R-East Wenatchee, updating a statute from the 1950’s pertaining to residency requirements of a county position known as the chief examiner signed into law today by Gov. Jay Inslee. The Chelan County Commissioners requested the change.

A chief examiner maintains records and testing procedures for civil service positions in counties. The position is a staff-level, non-elected position usually within a county’s human resources division. Under current law, a county’s chief examiner must reside within the county. House Bill 1752 will relieve counties of this strict residency requirement by allowing employees who serve in this role to live within the county or an adjacent county.

“I’m glad to see this change being made. In the Wenatchee Valley, because of the proximity of our two cities, counties, and school districts, some employees live in one jurisdiction and work in another. When the county brought this old statute to my attention, I thought it made sense to get it updated,” said Hawkins. “Other counties in the state need this little-known law updated as well and might not even realize they have a potential compliance issue. It is a modest bill to refresh an old statute, but I am glad I can help.”

House Bill 1752 approved by the House 92-4 and the Senate 48-0 before being signed into law by the governor. It will go into effect later this year.
Left to right in photo:  Cathy Mulhall, Chelan County Administrator, Rep. Hawkins, Chelan County Commissioner Keith Goehner, Katie Batson, Human Resources Director.