(1) The secretary shall develop a process with local governments that allows each community in which a secure community transition facility is located to establish operational advisory boards of at least seven persons for the secure community transition facilities. The department may conduct community awareness activities to publicize this opportunity. The operational advisory boards developed under this section shall be implemented following the decision to locate a secure community transition facility in a particular community.

(2) The operational advisory boards may review and make recommendations regarding the security and operations of the secure community transition facility and conditions or modifications necessary with relation to any person who the secretary proposes to place in the secure community transition facility.

(3) The facility management must consider the recommendations of the community advisory boards. Where the facility management does not implement an operational advisory board recommendation, the management must provide a written response to the operational advisory board stating its reasons for its decision not to implement the recommendation.

(4) The operational advisory boards, their members, and any agency represented by a member shall not be liable in any cause of action as a result of its recommendations unless the advisory board acts with gross negligence or bad faith in making a recommendation.

Intent—Severability—Effective dates—2001 2nd sp.s. c 12: See notes following RCW 71.09.250.