HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 5913

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Local Government

Title:  An act relating to annexation procedures for public hospital districts.

Brief Description:  Modifying annexation procedures for public hospital districts.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Senator Sellar).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Local Government, March 30, 1993, DPA.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives H. Myers, Chair; Bray, Vice Chair; Edmondson, Ranking Minority Member; Reams, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Dunshee; R. Fisher; Horn; Rayburn; Romero; Springer; Van Luven; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Steve Lundin (786-7127).

Background:  A public hospital district may annex contiguous territory located in one or more counties using one of two separate procedures.

First, such territory may be annexed under an election method of annexation where by resolution the hospital district commissioners submit a ballot proposition to the qualified electors residing in the area proposed to be annexed and the annexation is authorized, if the ballot proposition is approved by a majority of those voting on it.

Second, such territory may be annexed under a direct property owner petition method of annexation if at the time of the annexation no qualified electors reside in the area proposed to be annexed.  Under this annexation procedure, the petition must be signed by the owners of at least 60 percent of the land area proposed to be annexed.  The hospital district commissioners may choose to annex all or a portion of the area proposed to be annexed to the hospital district.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The direct property owner petition method of annexation by a public hospital district is expanded to also apply to situations where voters reside in the area proposed to be annexed if all these voters also sign the petition.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  The amendment clarifies that the existing condition for using this method of annexation is retained, where no qualified voters reside in the area proposed to be annexed.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The cost and delay of an election is avoided when everybody who could vote on the issue has already signed a petition calling for annexation.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Senator George Sellar, prime sponsor.