5-11-305. Legislative council appointments to interstate, international, and intergovernmental entities. (1) Unless otherwise provided by law, the legislative council shall appoint legislators to serve as members of appropriate interstate, international, and intergovernmental entities.

(2) The president of the senate, the speaker of the house, the minority leader of the senate, and the minority leader of the house may recommend nominees for the legislative council's consideration in making appointments to interstate, international, and intergovernmental entities.

(3) If the legislative council appoints more than one legislator to participate as a member in an interstate, international, or intergovernmental entity, the number of legislators appointed from the majority party and the minority party must be equal.

(4) If funds are available that the legislative council has the authority to expend, the legislative council, as the appropriate funding authority, may authorize that a legislator appointed as a member to an interstate, international, or intergovernmental entity be compensated, as provided in 5-2-302, for salary and expenses associated with participating in an entity-sponsored activity.

(5) If a vacancy occurs in membership to an interstate, international, or intergovernmental entity, appointment to fill the vacancy must be made in the same manner as the original appointment.

(6) The legislative council shall make appointments to any policy committee established by the Pacific Northwest economic region as provided in 5-11-707(2).