In each county the superior court may appoint the following persons to assist the superior court in disposing of its business: PROVIDED, That such positions may not be created without prior consent of the county legislative authority:

(1) One or more attorneys to act as mental health commissioners; and

(2) Such investigators, stenographers, and clerks as the court shall find necessary to carry on the work of the mental health commissioners.

The appointments provided for in this section shall be made by a majority vote of the judges of the superior court of the county and may be in addition to all other appointments of commissioners and other judicial attaches otherwise authorized by law. Mental health commissioners and investigators shall serve at the pleasure of the judges appointing them and shall receive such compensation as the county legislative authority shall determine. The appointments may be full or part-time positions. A person appointed as a mental health commissioner may also be appointed to any other commissioner position authorized by law.

Effective date—1993 c 15: See note following RCW 26.12.050.

Purpose—Captions not law—1991 c 363: See notes following RCW 2.32.180.

Severability—1989 c 174: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 1989 c 174 § 4.]