H-287                _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 997

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Representatives Valle, Jacobsen and Long

Read first time 2/8/85 and referred to Committee on Education.

AN ACT Relating to school levies; amending RCW 84.52.056; and providing a contingent effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 84.52.056, chapter 15, Laws of 1961 as last amended by section 104, chapter 195, Laws of 1973 1st ex. sess. and RCW 84.52.056 are each amended to read as follows:

          Any municipal corporation otherwise authorized by law to issue general obligation bonds for capital purposes may, at an election duly held after giving notice thereof as required by law, authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds for capital purposes only, which shall not include the replacement of equipment, and provide for the payment of the principal and interest of such bonds by annual levies in excess of the tax limitations contained in RCW 84.52.050 to 84.52.056, inclusive and RCW 84.52.043.  Such an election shall not be held oftener than twice a calendar year, and the proposition to issue any such bonds and to exceed said tax limitation must receive the affirmative vote of a three-fifths majority of those voting on the proposition and the total number of persons voting at such election must constitute not less than forty percent of the voters in said municipal corporation who voted at the last preceding general state election.  For school district elections, however, the proposition must receive an affirmative vote of a simple majority of those voting on the proposition if the total number of persons voting at the election constitutes not less than forty percent of the voters who voted at the last preceding general state election or, if less than forty percent of the voters who voted at the last preceding general election vote, the proposition must receive an affirmative vote of sixty percent of the persons voting on the proposition.

          Any taxing district shall have the right by vote of its governing body to refund any general obligation bonds of said district issued for capital purposes only, and to provide for the interest thereon and amortization thereof by annual levies in excess of the tax limitations provided for in RCW 84.52.050 to 84.52.056, inclusive and RCW 84.52.043.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     This act shall take effect on January 1, 1986, if the proposed amendment to Article VII, section 2, of the state Constitution modifying the voter turnout and affirmative vote requirement for excess school district levies, HJR !sc.,4, is validly submitted and is approved and ratified by the voters at a general election held in November, 1985.  If the proposed amendment is not so approved and ratified, this act shall be null and void in its entirety.