(1) The authority is a public entity established under the provisions of chapter 28B.07 RCW, which exercises essential governmental functions.

(2) Members. The authority shall consist of seven members as follows: The governor, lieutenant governor, executive coordinator of the state council for postsecondary education, and four public members, one of whom shall be the president of a higher education institution at the time of appointment. The public members shall be residents of the state and appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the senate, on the basis of their interest or expertise in the provision of higher education and the financing of higher education. The public members of the authority shall serve for terms of four years. The initial terms of the public members shall be staggered in a manner determined by the governor. In the event of a vacancy on the authority due to death, resignation, or removal of one of the public members, and upon the expiration of the term of any public member, the governor shall appoint a successor for a term expiring on the fourth anniversary of the successor's date of the appointment. If any of the state offices are abolished, the resulting vacancy on the authority shall be filled by the state officer who shall succeed substantially to the power and duties of the abolished office. Any public member of the authority may be removed by the governor for misfeasance, malfeasance, wilful neglect of duty, or any other cause after notice and a public hearing, unless such notice and hearing shall be expressly waived in writing.

(3) Officers. The governor shall serve as chairperson of the authority. The authority shall elect annually one of its members as secretary. If the governor shall be absent from a meeting of the authority, the secretary shall preside. However, the governor may designate an employee of the governor's office to act on the governor's behalf in all other respects during the absence of the governor at any meeting of the authority. If the designation is in writing and is presented to the person presiding at the meetings of the authority who is included in the designation, the vote of the designee has the same effect as if cast by the governor.

(4) Authority staff: The staff of the authority shall consist of an executive director and such other employees as are determined by the authority as necessary to fulfill its responsibilities and duties. The executive director shall be the chief administrative officer of the authority and subject to its direction. All other staff shall be under his or her supervision and direction. The executive director shall keep a record of the proceedings of the authority and, when required by the authority, shall sign notes, contracts and other instruments. The executive director shall have custody of and be responsible for all moneys and securities of the authority and shall deposit all such moneys forthwith in such banks as the authority may designate from time to time.

(5) Administrative office: The administrative office of the authority shall be located at 1000 Second Avenue, Suite 2700, Seattle, WA 98104-1046, telephone: (206) 464-7139, which office shall be open each day for the transaction of business from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays excepted, and except for business relating to public records, which is governed by WAC 253-12-050).

(6) Address for communications: All communications with the authority, including but not limited to the submission of materials pertaining to its operations and these rules, requests for copies of the authority's decisions and other matters, shall be addressed as follows: Washington Higher Education Facilities Authority, 1000 Second Avenue, Suite 2700, Seattle, WA 98104-1046.