SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 1038

BYRepresentatives Haugen, S. Wilson, Cooper, May, Leonard, Horn, Nutley, Ferguson, Jones and D. Sommers 

Changing provisions relating to county legislative authority meetings.

House Committe on Local Government

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 20, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; Conner, Sutherland.

Senate Staff:Sam Thompson (786-7754)

                  March 20, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS, MARCH 20, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Boards of county commissioners are required to hold regular quarterly meetings at the county seat on the first Mondays of January, April, July and October.  They are permitted to hold special meetings at other times but the statute authorizing special meetings does not specify where they may be held.

No appellate court decisions have been rendered in this state on whether a board of county commissioners can adopt an ordinance at a special meeting held outside of the county seat.  According to an Attorney General Opinion, however, this may not be done.

SUMMARY:

The requirement for boards of county commissioners to hold regular, quarterly meetings to transact business at the county seat is stricken.

County legislative authorities are required to hold regular meetings at the county seat.  They are permitted to hold special meetings to transact business.  A special meeting may be held outside of the county seat at any location in the county if the agenda items are of unique interest to the citizens of the portion of the county in which the special meeting is to be held.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Representative Mary Margaret Haugen, prime sponsor (pro); Gordon Hay, Island County Budget Director (pro)