SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6691

As Passed Senate, February 13, 2002

Title:  An act relating to authorizing less‑than‑countywide port districts with five commissioners with three commissioner districts and two at large commissioner districts to create five port commissioner districts.

Brief Description:  Authorizing five‑member port commissions to have five commissioner districts.

Sponsors:  Senator Spanel.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  2/6/02, 2/7/02 [DP].

Passed Senate:  2/13/02, 45-3.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Gardner, Chair; Fairley, Vice Chair; Hale, Haugen, Horn, Keiser, Roach and Swecker.

Staff:  Diane Smith (786‑7410)

Background:  The governance of port districts is by commissioners who are nominated either at-large or by a commissioner district.  All commissioners (either three or five) are elected at- large.

It is possible for a less-than-countywide port district in a county having a population of 500,000 or more to have three commissioner districts and five commissioners.  This happens when two of the commissioners are both nominated and elected at-large.  The mechanism for converting the two at-large commissioners into commissioners nominated by district, retaining all five commissioners, is not found in statute.

Summary of Bill:  In port districts having three commissioner districts and five commissioners, two of whom are nominated at-large, the port district may be divided into five commissioner districts.  This change may either be upon petition of 10 percent of the voters in the port district or by resolution of the port district's board of commissioners.  In either case, the increase from three to five commissioner districts requires approval of the voters of the port district at the next general or special election.

Upon approval by the voters, the commissioner districts are redrawn to become five in number.  All incumbent commissioners continue to represent a district for the remainder of their respective terms.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill addresses an unintended gap in the law and gives these port districts the flexibility that other port districts have.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Spanel, prime sponsor.