(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, in each county the superior court may appoint the following persons to assist the superior court in disposing of its business related to unlawful detainer actions for residential tenancies covered by this chapter and chapter 59.20 RCW:
(a) One or more attorneys to act as housing court commissioners; and
(b) Such investigators, stenographers, and clerks as the court finds necessary to carry on the work of the housing court commissioners.
(2) The position of a housing court commissioner may not be created without prior consent of the county legislative authority.
(3) The appointments provided for in this section are 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.
(4) The appointments may be full-time or part-time positions. A person appointed as a housing court commissioner may also be appointed to any other commissioner position authorized by law.
(5) Housing court commissioners and investigators serve at the pleasure of the judges appointing them and receive such compensation as the county legislative authority shall determine.
(6) A person appointed as a housing court commissioner shall comply with the fairness and impartiality standards established in RCW 3.34.110.
(7)(a) A person appointed as a housing court commissioner will receive training as soon as reasonably practicable but no sooner than July 26, 2025, from the administrative office of the courts on the following topics:
(i) The residential landlord-tenant act, this chapter;
(ii) The manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act, chapter 59.20 RCW;
(iii) Show cause hearing processes in the context of evictions and unlawful detainer actions; and
(iv) Unlawful detainer procedures, chapter 59.16 RCW.
(b) The administrative office of the courts may coordinate with the office of civil legal aid to develop and deliver the training described in (a) of this subsection.