SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5696
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As of February 16, 2009
Title: An act relating to the appointment of trustees for rural county library districts located in counties with a population of one million five hundred thousand or more.
Brief Description: Requiring rural county library district boards in counties with populations of one million five hundred thousand or more to have seven appointed members.
Sponsors: Senators Kauffman and McDermott.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 2/16/09.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS |
Staff: Sharon Swanson (786-7447)
Background: State law provides for the establishment, management, and operation of several categories of public library districts. These include rural county library districts, inter-county rural library districts, and island library districts.
A rural county library district provides library services to all areas within a county not included within incorporated cities and towns. It also provides services to cities and towns that choose to undergo an annexation process. Such cities and towns must have a population of 100,000 or less at the time of annexation.
Additionally, state law includes provisions regarding the number of trustees in a library district and how they are appointed. Provisions vary according to type of district. However, each district type must have five or seven trustees. Trustees are appointed by a mayor, local legislative body, or board of county commissioners.
Terms are established for the trustees such that each year there is one vacancy. Boards with five members have terms of five years, while boards with seven members have terms of seven years.
When a new library district is established, initial terms are of one, two, three, four, and five years for boards with five members, such that vacancies occur on a yearly basis. Terms are established in a similar manner for boards with seven members.
Library trustees do not receive salaries. However, they are paid from library funds for necessary expenses actually incurred.
Summary of Bill: Provisions regarding rural county library boards in counties with populations of 1,500,000 or more are amended. The number of library board trustees is modified from five to seven.
Effective January 10, 2010, term length for new trustees is modified from five to seven years.
Within four months of the effective date of this act, the appointing authority must appoint two additional trustees. The term lengths for these trustees must be of six and seven years, so there is only one vacancy per year.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: The King County Library Board would benefit from this change. The jurisdiction is quite large and requires sub committees to function. The ability to add additional board members would greatly help in oversight and work management. As drafted, the bill will only apply to King County.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Kauffman, prime sponsor; Bill Ptacek, King County Library Association.