1275-S AAS 4/19/91

1275-S AAS 4/19/91

SHB 1275 - S COMM AMD

By Committee on Government Operations

ADOPTED AS AMENDED 4/19/91 - Voice Vote

Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

"Sec. 1. RCW 29.18.022 and 1987 c 110 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

The names of all candidates for partisan office, for the office of superintendent of public instruction, for public utility district office, and for all judicial offices shall be rotated in each precinct in the manner specified by RCW 29.30.040, 29.30.340, and 29.30.440. The order of names of candidates for such offices on sample ballots and on absentee ballots in primaries shall be determined in the following manner:

(1) After the close of business on the last day for candidates to file for office, the officer with whom declarations of candidacy are filed shall, from among those filings made in person and by mail in accordance with RCW 29.18.045(2), determine by lot the order in which the names of those candidates shall appear on the sample and absentee ballots under the appropriate office heading. The determination shall be done publicly, and may be witnessed by the media and by any candidate desiring to do so.

(2) For the purposes of this section and RCW 29.18.045, "filing officer" means the officer with whom declarations of candidacy for an office must be filed."

"Sec. 2. RCW 29.30.025 and 1990 c 59 s 80 are each amended to read as follows:

After the close of business on the last day for candidates to file for office, the filing officer shall, from among those filings made in person and by mail, determine by lot the order in which the names of those candidates will appear on all sample and absentee ballots. In the case of candidates for city, town, and district office, except for public utility district office, this procedure shall also determine the order for candidate names on the official primary ballot used at the polling place. The determination shall be done publicly and may be witnessed by the media and by any candidate. If no primary is required for any nonpartisan office under RCW 29.15.150 or 29.21.015, the names shall appear on the general election ballot in the order determined by lot."

"Sec. 3. RCW 29.21.010 and 1977 c 53 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

All cities and towns shall hold primary elections irrespective of type or form of government which shall be nonpartisan and held as provided in RCW 29.13.070, as now or hereafter amended. All districts, except those districts which require ownership of property within ((~~said~~)) the districts as a prerequisite to voting, shall hold primary elections which shall be nonpartisan and held as provided in RCW 29.13.070 as now or hereafter amended.

All names of candidates to be voted upon at city, town, and such district primary elections, except for public utility district primary elections, shall be printed upon the official primary ballot alphabetically in groups under the designation of the respective titles of the offices for which they are candidates. The name of the person who receives the greatest number of votes and of the person who receives the next greatest number of votes for each position, shall appear in that order on the city, town, or district general election ballot concerned under the designation for each respective office. In the event there are two or more offices to be filled for the same position, then names of candidates receiving the highest number of votes equal in number to twice the offices to be filled shall appear on the city, town, or district general election ballot so that the voter shall have a choice of two candidates for each position: PROVIDED, That no name of any candidate shall appear on the city, town, or district general election ballot unless said candidate shall receive at least five percent of the total votes cast for that office. The sequence of names of candidates printed on the city, town, or district general election ballot shall be in relation to the number of votes each candidate received at the primary. Names of candidates printed upon the city, town, or district primary and general election ballot need not be rotated.

The purpose of this section is to establish the holding of a primary election, subject to the exemptions as contained in RCW 29.21.015 as now or hereafter amended, as a uniform procedural requirement to the holding of city, town, and district elections and such provisions shall supersede any and all other statutes, whether general or special in nature, having different election requirements."

"Sec. 4. RCW 29.30.040 and 1990 c 59 s 94 are each amended to read as follows:

At primaries, the names of candidates for federal, state, and county partisan offices, for the office of superintendent of public instruction, for public utility district office, and for judicial offices shall, for each office or position, be arranged initially in the order determined under RCW 29.30.025. Additional sets of ballots shall be prepared in which the positions of the names of all candidates for each office or position shall be changed as many times as there are candidates in the office or position in which there are the greatest number of names. As nearly as possible an equal number of ballots shall be prepared after each change. In making the changes of position between each set of ballots, the candidates for each such office in the first position under the office heading shall be moved to the last position under that office heading, and each other name shall be moved up to the position immediately above its previous position under that office heading. The effect of this rotation of the order of the names shall be that the name of each candidate for an office or position shall appear first, second, and so forth for that office or position on the ballots of a nearly equal number of registered voters in that jurisdiction. In a precinct using voting devices, the names of the candidates for each office shall appear in only one sequence in that precinct. The names of candidates for city, town, and district office on the ballot at the primary shall not be rotated."

"Sec. 5. RCW 35.02.020 and 1986 c 234 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

A petition for incorporation must be signed by ((~~qualified~~)) registered voters resident within the limits of the proposed city or town equal in number to ten percent of the ((~~votes cast~~)) number of voters who voted at the last ((~~state~~)) general municipal election and presented to the auditor of the county in which all, or the largest portion of, the proposed city or town is located."

"Sec. 6. RCW 35.02.090 and 1986 c 234 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:

The elections on the proposed incorporation and for the nomination and election of the initial elected officials shall be conducted in accordance with the general election laws of the state, except as provided in this chapter. No person is entitled to vote ((~~thereat~~)) unless he or she is a ((~~qualified elector~~)) registered voter of the county, or any of the counties in which the proposed city or town is located, and has resided within the limits of the proposed city or town for at least thirty days next preceding the date of election."

"Sec. 7. RCW 35.06.020 and 1965 c 7 s 35.06.020 are each amended to read as follows:

When a petition is filed signed by ((~~electors~~)) registered voters of a city or town, in number equal to not less than one-fifth of the votes cast at the last general municipal election, seeking reorganization thereof as a city of a higher class than that indicated by the last preceding federal or state census, the city or town council to which the petition is presented shall forthwith cause a census to be taken by one or more suitable persons of all the inhabitants of such town or city in which census the full name of each person shall be plainly written, and the names alphabetically arranged and regularly numbered in complete series. The census shall be verified before an officer authorized to administer oaths and filed with the city or town clerk.

If the census shows such city or town qualified for the class named in the petition, the same proceedings shall be had as if the census were a federal or state census.

If the census shows such city or town not qualified for the class named in the petition, no further proceedings shall be had: PROVIDED, That the city or town may be reorganized as a city or town of the class indicated by the census, upon a proper petition filed within six months from the filing of such census with the clerk, without other or further census."

"Sec. 8. RCW 35.06.030 and 1965 c 7 s 35.06.030 are each amended to read as follows:

If the census prescribed in RCW 35.06.020 shows that the city or town belongs to the class named in the petition, the city or town council shall cause notice to be given as in other cases, that at the ((~~the~~)) next general election of the city or town, or at a special election to be called for that purpose, the ((~~electors~~)) voters may vote for or against the advancement, their ballots to contain the words "for advancement" and the words "against advancement.""

"Sec. 9. RCW 35.06.050 and 1965 c 7 s 35.06.050 are each amended to read as follows:

The clerk shall lay the certificate of election and census before the council at its next regular meeting after the same has been filed in his or her office, and if ((~~it appear that all the votes cast for the advancement are not a majority of the votes cast at the election~~)) a majority of those voting on the advancement are not in favor of advancement, no further proceedings shall be had on that petition; but this shall not bar any new proceedings for such purpose."

"Sec. 10. RCW 35.24.020 and 1987 c 3 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

The government of a third class city shall be vested in a mayor, a city council of seven members, a city attorney, a clerk, a treasurer, all elective; and a chief of police, municipal judge, city engineer, street superintendent, health officer and such other appointive officers as may be provided for by statute or ordinance: PROVIDED, That the council may enact an ordinance providing for the appointment of the city clerk, city attorney, and treasurer by the mayor, which appointment shall be subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the city council. Such ordinance shall be enacted and become effective not later than thirty days prior to the first day allowed for filing declarations of candidacy for such offices when such offices are subject to an approaching city primary election. Elective incumbent city clerks, city attorneys, and city treasurers shall serve for the remainder of their unexpired term notwithstanding any appointment made pursuant to RCW 35.24.020 and 35.24.050. If a free public library and reading room is established, five library trustees shall be appointed. The city council by ordinance shall prescribe the duties and fix the compensation of all officers and employees: PROVIDED, That the provisions of any such ordinance shall not be inconsistent with any statute: PROVIDED FURTHER, That where the city council finds that the appointment of a full time city engineer is unnecessary, it may in lieu of such appointment, by resolution provide for the performance of necessary engineering services on either a part time, temporary or periodic basis by a qualified engineering firm, pursuant to any reasonable contract.

The mayor shall appoint and at his or her pleasure may remove all appointive officers except as otherwise provided herein: PROVIDED, That municipal judges shall be removed only upon conviction of misconduct or malfeasance in office, or because of physical or mental disability rendering ((~~him~~)) the judge incapable of performing the duties of his or her office. Every appointment or removal must be in writing signed by the mayor and filed with the city clerk."

"Sec. 11. RCW 35.24.180 and 1965 c 7 s 35.24.180 are each amended to read as follows:

The city council and mayor shall meet on the first Tuesday in January next succeeding the date of each general municipal election, and shall take the oath of office, and shall hold regular meetings at least once during each month but not to exceed one regular meeting in each week, at such times as may be fixed by ordinance.

Special meetings may be called by the mayor by written notice ((~~delivered to each member of the council at least three hours before the time specified for the proposed meeting~~)) as provided in RCW 42.30.080. No ordinances shall be passed or contract let or entered into, or bill for the payment of money allowed at any special meeting.

All meetings of the city council shall be held within the corporate limits of the city at such place as may be designated by ordinance. All meetings of the city council must be public."

"Sec. 12. RCW 35.24.190 and 1969 c 101 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

The members of the city council at their first meeting after each general municipal election and thereafter whenever a vacancy occurs, shall elect from among their number a mayor pro tempore, who shall hold office at the pleasure of the council and in case of the absence of the mayor, perform the duties of mayor except that he or she shall not have the power to appoint or remove any officer or to veto any ordinance. If a vacancy occurs in the office of mayor, the city council at their next regular meeting shall elect from among their number a mayor, who shall serve until a mayor is elected and certified at the next municipal election.

The mayor and the mayor pro tempore shall have power to administer oaths and affirmations, take affidavits and certify them. The mayor or the mayor pro tempore when acting as mayor, shall sign all conveyances made by the city and all instruments which require the seal of the city."

"Sec. 13. RCW 35.27.010 and 1965 c 7 s 35.27.010 are each amended to read as follows:

Every municipal corporation of the fourth class shall be entitled the "Town of .........." (naming it), and by such name shall have perpetual succession, may sue, and be sued in all courts and places, and in all proceedings whatever; shall have and use a common seal, alterable at the pleasure of the town authorities, and may purchase, lease, receive, hold, and enjoy real and personal property and control ((~~and~~)), lease, sublease, convey, or otherwise dispose of the same for the common benefit."

"Sec. 14. RCW 35.27.070 and 1987 c 3 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:

The government of a town shall be vested in a mayor and a council consisting of five members and a treasurer, all elective; the mayor shall appoint a clerk and a marshal; and may appoint a town attorney, pound master, street superintendent, a civil engineer, and such police and other subordinate officers and employees as may be provided for by ordinance. All appointive officers and employees shall hold office at the pleasure of the mayor and shall not be subject to confirmation by the town council."

"Sec. 15. RCW 35.27.130 and 1990 c 212 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

The mayor and members of the town council may be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the discharge of their official duties upon presentation of a claim therefor and its allowance and approval by resolution of the town council. The mayor and members of the council may also receive such salary as the council may fix by ordinance.

The treasurer and treasurer-clerk shall severally receive at stated times a compensation to be fixed by ordinance.

The compensation of all other officers and employees shall be fixed from time to time by the council.

Any town that provides a pension for any of its employees under a plan not administered by the state must notify the state auditor of the existence of the plan at the time of an audit of the town by the auditor. No town may establish a pension plan for its employees that is not administered by the state, except that any defined contribution plan in existence as of January 1, 1990, is deemed to have been authorized. No town that provides a defined contribution plan for its employees as authorized by this section may make any material changes in the terms or conditions of the plan after June 7, 1990."

"Sec. 16. RCW 35.27.270 and 1965 c 7 s 35.27.270 are each amended to read as follows:

The town council shall meet on the second Tuesday in January succeeding the date of the general municipal election, shall take the oath of office, and shall hold regular meetings at least once each month at such times as may be fixed by ordinance. Special meetings may be called at any time by the mayor or by three ((~~councilmen~~)) councilmembers, by written notice ((~~delivered to each member at least three hours before the time specified for the proposed meeting~~)) as provided in RCW 42.30.080. No resolution or order for the payment of money shall be passed at any other than a regular meeting. No such resolution or order shall be valid unless passed by the votes of at least three ((~~councilmen~~)) councilmembers.

All meetings of the council shall be held within the corporate limits of the town, at such places as may be designated by ordinance and shall be public."

"Sec. 17. RCW 35.27.280 and 1965 c 107 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

A majority of the ((~~councilmen~~)) councilmembers shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but a lesser number may adjourn from time to time and may compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as may be prescribed by ordinance.

In the event of the extended excused absence or disability of a councilmember, the remaining members by majority vote may appoint a councilmember pro tempore to serve during the absence or disability. The mayor shall preside at all meetings of the council. The mayor shall have a vote only in case of a tie in the votes of the ((~~councilmen~~)) councilmembers. In the absence of the mayor the council may appoint a president pro tempore; in the absence of the clerk, the mayor, or president pro tempore, shall appoint one of the councilmembers as clerk pro tempore. The council may establish rules for the conduct of its proceedings and punish any members or other person for disorderly behavior at any meeting. At the desire of any member, the ayes and noes shall be taken on any question and entered in the journal."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 18. A new section is added to chapter 35.21 RCW to read as follows:

(1) It is the purpose of this section to provide a means whereby all cities and towns may obtain, through a single source, information regarding ordinances of other cities and towns that may be of assistance to them in enacting appropriate local legislation.

(2) For the purposes of this section, (a) "clerk" means the city or town clerk or other person who is lawfully designated to perform the recordkeeping function of that office, and (b) "municipal research council" means the municipal research council created by chapter 43.110 RCW.

(3) The clerk of every city and town is directed to provide to the municipal research council or its designee, promptly after adoption, a copy of each of its regulatory ordinances and such other ordinances or kinds of ordinances as may be described in a list or lists promulgated by the municipal research council or its designee from time to time, and may provide such copies without charge. The municipal research council may provide that information to the entity with which it contracts for the provision of municipal research and services, in order to provide a pool of information for all cities and towns in the state of Washington.

(4) This section is intended to be directory and not mandatory."

"Sec. 19. RCW 35A.12.010 and 1985 c 106 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

The government of any noncharter code city or charter code city electing to adopt the mayor-council plan of government authorized by this chapter shall be vested in an elected mayor and an elected council. The council of a noncharter code city having less than twenty-five hundred inhabitants shall consist of five members; when there are twenty-five hundred or more inhabitants, the council shall consist of seven members: PROVIDED, That if the population of a city after having become a code city decreases from twenty-five hundred or more to less than twenty-five hundred, it shall continue to have a seven member council. If, after a city has become a mayor-council code city, its population increases to twenty-five hundred or more inhabitants, the number of councilmanic offices in such city may increase from five to seven members upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the existing council to increase the number of councilmanic offices in the city. When the population of a mayor-council code city having five councilmanic offices increases to five thousand or more inhabitants, the number of councilmanic offices in the city shall increase from five to seven members. In the event of an increase in the number of councilmanic offices, the city council shall, by majority vote, pursuant to RCW 35A.12.050, appoint two persons to serve in these offices until the next municipal general election, at which election one person shall be elected for a two-year term and one person shall be elected for a four-year term: PROVIDED, That both persons shall be elected to a two-year term when (a) the city council has divided the city into wards pursuant to RCW 35A.12.180, and (b) the terms of office of a majority of the other councilmanic offices expire at such election. The number of inhabitants shall be determined by the most recent official state or federal census or determination by the state office of financial management. A charter adopted under the provisions of this title, incorporating the mayor-council plan of government set forth in this chapter, may provide for an uneven number of councilmen not exceeding eleven.

A noncharter code city of less than five thousand inhabitants which has elected the mayor-council plan of government and which has seven councilmanic offices may establish a five-member council in accordance with the following procedure. At least six months prior to a municipal general election, the city council shall adopt an ordinance providing for reduction in the number of councilmanic offices to five. The ordinance shall specify which two councilmanic offices, the terms of which expire at the next general election, are to be terminated. The ordinance shall provide for the renumbering of council positions and shall also provide for a two-year extension of the term of office of a retained councilmanic office, if necessary, in order to comply with RCW 35A.12.040."

"Sec. 20. RCW 35A.39.010 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.39.010 are each amended to read as follows:

Every code city shall keep a journal of minutes of its legislative meetings with orders, resolutions and ordinances passed, and records of the proceedings of any city department, division or commission performing quasi judicial functions as required by ordinances of the city and general laws of the state and shall keep such records open to the public as required by RCW 42.32.030 and shall keep and preserve all public records and publications or reproduce and destroy the same as provided by Title 40 RCW. Each code city ((~~shall provide three copies of each of its ordinances of general application to the association of Washington cities without charge and~~)) may duplicate and sell copies of its ordinances at fees reasonably calculated to defray the cost of such duplication and handling."

"Sec. 21. RCW 41.08.040 and 1973 1st ex.s. c 154 s 60 are each amended to read as follows:

Immediately after appointment the commission shall organize by electing one of its members ((~~chairman~~)) chair and hold regular meetings at least once a month, and such additional meetings as may be required for the proper discharge of their duties.

They shall appoint a secretary and chief examiner, who shall keep the records of the commission, preserve all reports made to it, superintend and keep a record of all examinations held under its direction, and perform such other duties as the commission may prescribe.

The secretary and chief examiner shall be appointed as a result of competitive examination which examination may be either original and open to all properly qualified citizens of the city, town or municipality, or promotional and limited to persons already in the service of the fire department or of the fire department and other departments of said city, town or municipality, as the commission may decide. The secretary and chief examiner may be subject to suspension, reduction or discharge in the same manner and subject to the same limitations as are provided in the case of members of the fire department. It shall be the duty of the civil service commission:

(1) To make suitable rules and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter. Such rules and regulations shall provide in detail the manner in which examinations may be held, and appointments, promotions, transfers, reinstatements, demotions, suspensions and discharges shall be made, and may also provide for any other matters connected with the general subject of personnel administration, and which may be considered desirable to further carry out the general purposes of this chapter, or which may be found to be in the interest of good personnel administration. Such rules and regulations may be changed from time to time. The rules and regulations and any amendments thereof shall be printed, mimeographed or multigraphed for free public distribution. Such rules and regulations may be changed from time to time.

(2) All tests shall be practical, and shall consist only of subjects which will fairly determine the capacity of persons examined to perform duties of the position to which appointment is to be made, and may include tests of physical fitness and/or of manual skill.

(3) The rules and regulations adopted by the commission shall provide for a credit ((~~of ten percent~~)) in accordance with RCW 41.04.010 in favor of all applicants for appointment under civil service, who, in time of war, or in any expedition of the armed forces of the United States, have served in and been honorably discharged from the armed forces of the United States, including the army, navy, and marine corps and the American Red Cross. These credits apply to entrance examinations only.

(4) The commission shall make investigations concerning and report upon all matters touching the enforcement and effect of the provisions of this chapter, and the rules and regulations prescribed hereunder; inspect all institutions, departments, offices, places, positions and employments affected by this chapter, and ascertain whether this chapter and all such rules and regulations are being obeyed. Such investigations may be made by the commission or by any commissioner designated by the commission for that purpose. Not only must these investigations be made by the commission as aforesaid, but the commission must make like investigation on petition of a citizen, duly verified, stating that irregularities or abuses exist, or setting forth in concise language, in writing, the necessity for such investigation. In the course of such investigation the commission or designated commissioner, or chief examiner, shall have the power to administer oaths, subpoena and require the attendance of witnesses and the production by them of books, papers, documents and accounts appertaining to the investigation and also to cause the deposition of witnesses residing within or without the state to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for like depositions in civil actions in the superior court; and the oaths administered hereunder and the subpoenas issued hereunder shall have the same force and effect as the oaths administered by a superior court judge in his or her judicial capacity; and the failure upon the part of any person so subpoenaed to comply with the provisions of this section shall be deemed a violation of this chapter, and punishable as such.

(5) All hearings and investigations before the commission, or designated commissioner, or chief examiner, shall be governed by this chapter and by rules of practice and procedure to be adopted by the commission, and in the conduct thereof neither the commission, nor designated commissioner shall be bound by the technical rules of evidence. No informality in any proceedings or hearing, or in the manner of taking testimony before the commission or designated commissioner, shall invalidate any order, decision, rule or regulation made, approved or confirmed by the commission: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That no order, decision, rule or regulation made by any designated commissioner conducting any hearing or investigation alone shall be of any force or effect whatsoever unless and until concurred in by at least one of the other two members.

(6) To hear and determine appeals or complaints respecting the administrative work of the personnel department; appeals upon the allocation of positions; the rejection of an examination, and such other matters as may be referred to the commission.

(7) Establish and maintain in card or other suitable form a roster of officers and employees.

(8) Provide for, formulate and hold competitive tests to determine the relative qualifications of persons who seek employment in any class or position and as a result thereof establish eligible lists for the various classes of positions, and to provide that persons laid off because of curtailment of expenditures, reduction in force, and for like causes, head the list in the order of their seniority, to the end that they shall be the first to be reemployed.

(9) When a vacant position is to be filled, to certify to the appointing authority, on written request, the name of the person highest on the eligible list for the class. If there are no such lists, to authorize provisional or temporary appointment list of such class. Such temporary or provisional appointment shall not continue for a period longer than four months; nor shall any person receive more than one provisional appointment or serve more than four months as a provisional appointee in any one fiscal year.

(10) Keep such records as may be necessary for the proper administration of this chapter."

"Sec. 22. RCW 41.12.040 and 1937 c 13 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

They shall appoint a secretary and chief examiner, who shall keep the records for the commission, preserve all reports made to it, superintend and keep a record of all examinations held under its direction, and perform such other duties as the commission may prescribe.

The secretary and chief examiner shall be appointed as a result of competitive examination which examination may be either original and open to all properly qualified citizens of the city, town, or municipality, or promotional and limited to persons already in the service of the police department or of the police department and other departments of said city, town, or municipality, as the commission may decide. The secretary and chief examiner may be subject to suspension, reduction, or discharge in the same manner and subject to the same limitations as are provided in the case of members of the police department. It shall be the duty of the civil service commission:

(1) To make suitable rules and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter. Such rules and regulations shall provide in detail the manner in which examinations may be held, and appointments, promotions, transfers, reinstatements, demotions, suspensions, and discharges shall be made, and may also provide for any other matters connected with the general subject of personnel administration, and which may be considered desirable to further carry out the general purposes of this chapter, or which may be found to be in the interest of good personnel administration. Such rules and regulations may be changed from time to time. The rules and regulations and any amendments thereof shall be printed, mimeographed, or multigraphed for free public distribution. Such rules and regulations may be changed from time to time;

(4) The commission shall make investigations concerning and report upon all matters touching the enforcement and effect of the provisions of this chapter, and the rules and regulations prescribed hereunder; inspect all institutions, departments, offices, places, positions, and employments affected by this chapter, and ascertain whether this chapter and all such rules and regulations are being obeyed. Such investigations may be made by the commission or by any commissioner designated by the commission for that purpose. Not only must these investigations be made by the commission as aforesaid, but the commission must make like investigation on petition of a citizen, duly verified, stating that irregularities or abuses exist, or setting forth in concise language, in writing, the necessity for such investigation. In the course of such investigation the commission or designated commissioner, or chief examiner, shall have the power to administer oaths, subpoena and require the attendance of witnesses and the production by them of books, papers, documents, and accounts appertaining to the investigation, and also to cause the deposition of witnesses residing within or without the state to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for like depositions in civil actions in the superior court; and the oaths administered hereunder and the subpoenas issued hereunder shall have the same force and effect as the oaths administered by a superior court judge in his or her judicial capacity; and the failure upon the part of any person so subpoenaed to comply with the provisions of this section shall be deemed a violation of this chapter, and punishable as such;

(5) Hearings and Investigations: How conducted. All hearings and investigations before the commission, or designated commissioner, or chief examiner, shall be governed by this chapter and by rules of practice and procedure to be adopted by the commission, and in the conduct thereof neither the commission, nor designated commissioner shall be bound by the technical rules of evidence. No informality in any proceedings or hearing, or in the manner of taking testimony before the commission or designated commissioner, shall invalidate any order, decision, rule or regulation made, approved or confirmed by the commission: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That no order, decision, rule or regulation made by any designated commissioner conducting any hearing or investigation alone shall be of any force or effect whatsoever unless and until concurred in by at least one of the other two members;

(7) Establish and maintain in card or other suitable form a roster of officers and employees;

(8) Provide for, formulate and hold competitive tests to determine the relative qualifications of persons who seek employment in any class or position and as a result thereof establish eligible lists for the various classes of positions, and to provide that ((~~men~~)) persons laid off because of curtailment of expenditures, reduction in force, and for like causes, head the list in the order of their seniority, to the end that they shall be the first to be reemployed;

(10) Keep such records as may be necessary for the proper administration of this chapter."

"Sec. 23. RCW 42.17.310 and 1991 c 1 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The following are exempt from public inspection and copying:

(a) Personal information in any files maintained for students in public schools, patients or clients of public institutions or public health agencies, or welfare recipients.

(b) Personal information in files maintained for employees, appointees, or elected officials of any public agency to the extent that disclosure would violate their right to privacy.

(c) Information required of any taxpayer in connection with the assessment or collection of any tax if the disclosure of the information to other persons would (i) be prohibited to such persons by RCW 82.32.330 or (ii) violate the taxpayer's right to privacy or result in unfair competitive disadvantage to the taxpayer.

(d) Specific intelligence information and specific investigative records compiled by investigative, law enforcement, and penology agencies, and state agencies vested with the responsibility to discipline members of any profession, the nondisclosure of which is essential to effective law enforcement or for the protection of any person's right to privacy.

(e) Information revealing the identity of persons who file complaints with investigative, law enforcement, or penology agencies, other than the public disclosure commission, if disclosure would endanger any person's life, physical safety, or property. If at the time the complaint is filed the complainant indicates a desire for disclosure or nondisclosure, such desire shall govern. However, all complaints filed with the public disclosure commission about any elected official or candidate for public office must be made in writing and signed by the complainant under oath.

(f) Test questions, scoring keys, and other examination data used to administer a license, employment, or academic examination.

(g) Except as provided by chapter 8.26 RCW, the contents of real estate appraisals, made for or by any agency relative to the acquisition or sale of property, until the project or prospective sale is abandoned or until such time as all of the property has been acquired or the property to which the sale appraisal relates is sold, but in no event shall disclosure be denied for more than three years after the appraisal.

(h) Valuable formulae, designs, drawings, and research data obtained by any agency within five years of the request for disclosure when disclosure would produce private gain and public loss.

(i) Preliminary drafts, notes, recommendations, and intra‑agency memorandums in which opinions are expressed or policies formulated or recommended except that a specific record shall not be exempt when publicly cited by an agency in connection with any agency action.

(j) Records which are relevant to a controversy to which an agency is a party but which records would not be available to another party under the rules of pretrial discovery for causes pending in the superior courts.

(k) Records, maps, or other information identifying the location of archaeological sites in order to avoid the looting or depredation of such sites.

(l) Any library record, the primary purpose of which is to maintain control of library materials, or to gain access to information, which discloses or could be used to disclose the identity of a library user.

(m) Financial information supplied by or on behalf of a person, firm, or corporation for the purpose of qualifying to submit a bid or proposal for (a) a ferry system construction or repair contract as required by RCW 47.60.680 through 47.60.750 or (b) highway construction or improvement as required by RCW 47.28.070.

(n) Railroad company contracts filed with the utilities and transportation commission under RCW 81.34.070, except that the summaries of the contracts are open to public inspection and copying as otherwise provided by this chapter.

(o) Financial and commercial information and records supplied by private persons pertaining to export services provided pursuant to chapters 43.163 ((~~RCW~~)) and ((~~chapter~~)) 53.31 RCW.

(p) Financial disclosures filed by private vocational schools under chapter 28C.10 RCW.

(q) Records filed with the utilities and transportation commission or attorney general under RCW 80.04.095 that a court has determined are confidential under RCW 80.04.095.

(r) Financial and commercial information and records supplied by businesses during application for loans or program services provided by chapters 43.163 ((~~RCW and chapters~~)), 43.31, 43.63A, and 43.168 RCW.

(s) Membership lists or lists of members or owners of interests of units in timeshare projects, subdivisions, camping resorts, condominiums, land developments, or common-interest communities affiliated with such projects, regulated by the department of licensing, in the files or possession of the department.

(t) All applications for public employment, including the names of applicants, resumes, and other related materials submitted with respect to an applicant.

(u) The residential addresses and residential telephone numbers of employees or volunteers of a public agency which are held by the agency in personnel records, employment or volunteer rosters, or mailing lists of employees or volunteers.

(v) The residential addresses and residential telephone numbers of the customers of a public utility contained in the records or lists held by the public utility of which they are customers.

(w) Information obtained by the board of pharmacy as provided in RCW 69.45.090.

(x) Information obtained by the board of pharmacy and its representatives as provided in RCW 69.41.044 and 69.41.280.

(y) Financial information, business plans, examination reports, and any information produced or obtained in evaluating or examining a business and industrial development corporation organized or seeking certification under chapter 31.24 RCW.

(z) Financial and commercial information supplied to the state investment board by any person when the information relates to the investment of public trust or retirement funds and when disclosure would result in loss to such funds or in private loss to the providers of this information.

(aa) Financial and valuable trade information under RCW 51.36.120.

(bb) Effective April 19, 1991, the work and home addresses, other than the city of residence, of a person shall remain undisclosed or be omitted from all documents made available for public review if that person requests in writing, under oath, that these addresses be kept private because disclosure would endanger his or her life, physical safety, or property. This provision does not in any way restrict the sharing or collection of information by state and local governmental agencies required for the daily administration of their duties. The secretary of state shall administer this provision and establish the procedures and rules that are necessary for its operation. An agency that has not been furnished with a request for confidentiality of address information is not liable for damages resulting from its disclosure of the information. For purpose of service of process, the secretary of state shall serve as agent for each person who submits a request under this subsection. A request shall be of no force or effect if the requester does not include a statement, along with or part of the request, designating the secretary of state as agent of the requester for purposes of service of process.

(cc) Personal information in files maintained for patients or clients who have been provided emergency medical services by a publicly operated emergency medical service provider.

(2) Except for information described in subsection (1)(c)(i) of this section and confidential income data exempted from public inspection pursuant to RCW 84.40.020, the exemptions of this section are inapplicable to the extent that information, the disclosure of which would violate personal privacy or vital governmental interests, can be deleted from the specific records sought. No exemption may be construed to permit the nondisclosure of statistical information not descriptive of any readily identifiable person or persons.

(3) Inspection or copying of any specific records exempt under the provisions of this section may be permitted if the superior court in the county in which the record is maintained finds, after a hearing with notice thereof to every person in interest and the agency, that the exemption of such records is clearly unnecessary to protect any individual's right of privacy or any vital governmental function.

(4) Agency responses refusing, in whole or in part, inspection of any public record shall include a statement of the specific exemption authorizing the withholding of the record (or part) and a brief explanation of how the exemption applies to the record withheld."

"Sec. 24. RCW 54.08.010 and 1985 c 469 s 55 are each amended to read as follows:

At any general election held in an even-numbered year, the county legislative authority of any county in this state may, or, on petition of ten percent of the ((~~qualified electors~~)) registered voters of the county based on the total vote cast in the last general county election held in an even-numbered year, shall, by resolution, submit to the voters of the county the proposition of creating a public utility district which shall be coextensive with the limits of the county as now or hereafter established. A form of petition for the creation of a public utility district shall be submitted to the county auditor within ten months prior to the election at which the proposition is to be submitted to the voters. Petitions shall be filed with the county auditor not less than four months before the election and the county auditor shall within thirty days examine the signatures thereof and certify to the sufficiency or insufficiency thereof. If the petition be found to be insufficient, it shall be returned to the persons filing the same, who may amend or add names thereto for ten days, when the same shall be returned to the county auditor, who shall have an additional fifteen days to examine the same and attach his or her certificate thereto. No person having signed the petition shall be allowed to withdraw his or her name therefrom after the filing of the same with the county auditor: PROVIDED, That each signature shall be dated and that no signature dated prior to the date on which the form of petition was submitted to the county auditor shall be valid. Whenever the petition shall be certified to as sufficient, the county auditor shall forthwith transmit the same, together with his or her certificate of sufficiency attached thereto, to the county legislative authority which shall submit the proposition to the voters of the county at the next general election in an even-numbered year occurring forty-five days after submission of the proposition to the legislative authority. The notice of the election shall state the boundaries of the proposed public utility district and the object of such election, and shall in other respects conform to the requirements of the general laws of the state of Washington, governing the time and manner of holding elections. In submitting the question to the voters for their approval or rejection, the proposition shall be expressed on the ballot substantially in the following terms:

Public Utility District No. ...................... YES ( )

Public Utility District No. ...................... NO ( )

Any petition for the formation of a public utility district may describe a less area than the entire county in which the petition is filed, the boundaries of which shall follow the then existing precinct boundaries and not divide any voting precinct; and in the event that such a petition is filed the county legislative authority shall fix a date for a hearing on such petition, and shall publish the petition, without the signatures thereto appended, for two weeks prior to the date of the hearing, together with a notice stating the time of the meeting when the petition will be heard. The publication, and all other publications required by this act, shall be in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the district is situated. The hearing on the petition may be adjourned from time to time, not exceeding four weeks in all. If upon the final hearing the county legislative authority shall find that any lands have been unjustly or improperly included within the proposed public utility district and will not be benefited by inclusion therein, it shall change and fix the boundary lines in such manner as it shall deem reasonable and just and conducive to the public welfare and convenience, and make and enter an order establishing and defining the boundary lines of the proposed public utility district: PROVIDED, That no lands shall be included within the boundaries so fixed lying outside the boundaries described in the petition, except upon the written request of the owners of those lands. Thereafter the same procedure shall be followed as prescribed in this chapter for the formation of a public utility district including an entire county, except that the petition and election shall be confined solely to the lesser public utility district.

No public utility district created after September 1, 1979, shall include any other public utility district within its boundaries: PROVIDED, That this paragraph shall not alter, amend, or modify provisions of chapter 54.32 RCW."

"Sec. 25. RCW 54.08.070 and 1979 ex.s. c 240 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

Any district which does not own or operate electric facilities for the generation, transmission or distribution of electric power on March 25, 1969, or any district which hereafter does not construct or acquire such electric facilities within ten years of its creation, shall not construct or acquire any such electric facilities without the approval of such proposal by the voters of such district: PROVIDED, That a district shall have the power to construct or acquire electric facilities within ten years following its creation by action of its commission without voter approval of such action.

At any general election held in an even-numbered year, the proposal to construct or acquire electric facilities may be submitted to the voters of the district by resolution of the public utility district commission or shall be submitted to the voters of the district by the county legislative authority on petition of ten percent of the ((~~qualified electors~~)) registered voters of ((~~such~~)) the district, based on the total vote cast in the last general county election held in an even-numbered year. A form of petition for the construction or acquisition of electric facilities by the public utility district shall be submitted to the county auditor within ten months prior to the election at which such proposition is to be submitted to the voters. Petitions shall be filed with the county auditor not less than four months before such election and the county auditor shall within thirty days examine the signatures thereof and certify to the sufficiency or insufficiency thereof. If such petition is found to be insufficient, it shall be returned to the persons filing the same, who may amend and add names thereto for ten days, when the same shall be returned to the county auditor, who shall have an additional fifteen days to examine the same and attach his or her certificate thereto. No person having signed such petition shall be allowed to withdraw his or her name therefrom after the filing of the same with the county auditor: PROVIDED, That each signature shall be dated and that no signature dated prior to the date on which the form of petition was submitted to the county auditor shall be valid. Whenever such petition shall be certified to as sufficient, the county auditor shall forthwith transmit the same, together with his or her certificate of sufficiency attached thereto, to the county legislative authority which shall submit such proposition to the voters of ((~~said~~)) the district at the next general election in an even-numbered year occurring forty-five days after submission of the proposition to ((~~said~~)) the legislative authority. The notice of the election shall state the object of such election, and shall in other respects conform to the requirements of the general laws of Washington, governing the time and manner of holding elections.

The proposal submitted to the voters for their approval or rejection, shall be expressed on the ballot substantially in the following terms:

Shall Public Utility District No. ..... of .......... County construct or acquire electric facilities for the generation, transmission or distribution of electric power?

Yes ( )

No ( )

Within ten days after such election, the election board of the county shall canvass the returns, and if at such election a majority of the voters voting on such proposition shall vote in favor of such construction or acquisition of electric facilities, the district shall be authorized to construct or acquire electric facilities."

"Sec. 26. RCW 54.08.080 and 1969 c 106 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

Any district now or hereafter created under the laws of this state may be dissolved, as hereinafter provided, by a majority vote of the ((~~qualified electors~~)) registered voters of ((~~such~~)) the district at any general election upon a resolution of the district commission, or upon petition being filed and such proposition for dissolution submitted to ((~~said electors~~)) the voters in the same manner provided by chapter 54.08 RCW for the creation of public utility districts. The returns of the election on such proposition for dissolution shall be canvassed and the results declared in the same manner as is provided by RCW 54.08.010: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That any such proposition to dissolve a district shall not be submitted to the ((~~electors~~)) voters if within five years prior to the filing of such petition or resolution such district has undertaken any material studies or material action relating to the construction or acquisition of any utility properties or if such district at the time of the submission of such proposition is actually engaged in the operation of any utility properties.

If a majority of the ((~~votes cast~~)) registered voters voting on the dissolution at the election favor dissolution, the commission of the district shall petition, without any filing fee, the superior court of the county in which such district is located for an order authorizing the payment of all indebtedness of the district and directing the transfer of any surplus funds or property to the general fund of the county in which such district is organized."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 27. Sections 1 and 3 of this act shall expire July 1, 1992."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 28. Sections 2 and 4 of this act shall take effect July 1, 1992."

"Sec. 29. RCW 35.02.078 and 1986 c 234 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:

An election shall be held in the area proposed to be incorporated to determine whether the proposed city or town shall be incorporated if the boundary review board approves or modifies and approves the proposal, or if the county legislative authority does not disapprove the proposal as provided in RCW 35.02.070. Voters at this election shall determine if the area is to be incorporated.

The initial election on the question of incorporation shall be held at the next special election date specified in RCW 29.13.020 that occurs sixty or more days after the final public hearing by the county legislative authority or authorities, or the approval or modification and approval by the boundary review board or boards. The county legislative authority or authorities shall call for this election and, if the incorporation is approved, shall call for other elections to elect the elected officials as provided in this section. If the vote in favor of the incorporation receives ((~~forty~~)) thirty percent or less of the total vote on the question of incorporation, no new election on the question of incorporation for the area or any portion of the area proposed to be incorporated may be held for a period of three years from the date of the election in which the incorporation failed. This three-year prohibition shall not apply to any proposed city or town in which such election was held after September 1, 1990, but before the effective date of this section and the vote in favor of the incorporation received thirty percent or more of the total on the question of incorporation.

If the incorporation is authorized as provided by RCW 35.02.120, separate elections shall be held to nominate and elect persons to fill the various elective offices prescribed by law for the population and type of city or town, and to which it will belong. The primary election to nominate candidates for these elective positions shall be held at the next special election date, as specified in RCW 29.13.020, that occurs sixty or more days after the election on the question of incorporation or, if the incorporation election was held in April or May, at a special election by mail ballots to be held on the third Tuesday in July. The election to fill these elective positions shall be held at the next special election date, as specified in RCW 29.13.020, that occurs thirty or more days after certification of the results of the primary election or, if the primary election was held in April or May, at a special election by mail ballots to be held on the third Tuesday in July."

"Sec. 30. RCW 35.14.010 and 1985 c 281 s 24 are each amended to read as follows:

Whenever unincorporated territory is annexed by a city or town pursuant to the provisions of chapter 35.13 RCW, or whenever unincorporated territory is annexed to a code city pursuant to the provisions of chapter 35A.14 RCW, community municipal corporations may be organized ((~~in the manner provided for in this 1967 amendatory act~~)) for the territory comprised of all or a part of an unincorporated area annexed to a city or town pursuant to chapter 35.13 or 35A.14 RCW, if: (1) The service area is such as would be eligible for incorporation as a city or town; or (2) the service area has a minimum population of not less than three hundred inhabitants and ten percent of the population of the annexing city or town; or (3) the service area has a minimum population of not less than one thousand inhabitants.

Whenever two or more cities are consolidated pursuant to the provisions of chapter 35.10 RCW, a community municipal corporation may be organized within one or more of the consolidating cities.

No territory shall be included in the service area of more than one community municipal corporation. Whenever a new community municipal corporation is formed embracing all of the territory of an existing community municipal corporation, the prior existing community municipal corporation shall be deemed to be dissolved on the effective date of the new corporation."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 31. A new section is added to chapter 35.10 RCW to read as follows:

Voters of one or more of the cities that are proposed to be consolidated may have a ballot proposition submitted to them authorizing the simultaneous creation of a community municipal corporation and election of community council members as provided for under chapter 35.14 RCW. The joint resolution that initiates a consolidation under RCW 35.10.410 may provide for the question of whether a community municipal corporation shall be created to be submitted to the voters of one or more of the cities that are proposed to be consolidated as a separate ballot measure from the ballot measure authorizing the consolidation or as part of the same ballot measure authorizing the consolidation. The petitions that are signed by the voters of each of the cities that are proposed to be consolidated under RCW 35.10.420 may provide for the question of whether to create a community municipal corporation to be submitted to the voters of that city as a separate ballot measure from the ballot measure authorizing the consolidation or as part of the same ballot measure authorizing the consolidation.

The ballots shall contain the words "For consolidation and creation of community municipal corporation" and "Against consolidation and creation of community municipal corporation," or "For creation of community municipal corporation" and "Against creation of community municipal corporation," as the case may be. Approval of either optional ballot proposition shall be by simple majority vote of the voters voting on the proposition, but the consolidation must be authorized by the voters of each city proposed to be consolidated before a community municipal corporation is created."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 32. A new section is added to chapter 35A.14 RCW to read as follows:

The resolution initiating the annexation of territory under RCW 35A.14.015, and the petition initiating the annexation of territory under RCW 35A.14.020, may provide for the simultaneous creation of a community municipal corporation and election of community council members as provided for in chapter 35.14 RCW, as separate ballot measures or as part of the same ballot measure authorizing the annexation, or for the simultaneous inclusion of the annexed area into a named existing community municipal corporation operating under chapter 35.14 RCW, as separate ballot measures or as part of the same ballot measure authorizing the annexation. If the petition so provides for the creation of a community municipal corporation and election of community council members, the petition shall describe the boundaries of the proposed service area, state the number of voters residing therein as nearly as may be, and pray for the election of community council members by the voters residing in the service area.

The ballots shall contain the words "For annexation and creation of community municipal corporation" and "Against annexation and creation of community municipal corporation," or "For creation of community municipal corporation" and "Against creation of community municipal corporation," as the case may be. Approval of either optional ballot proposition shall be by simple majority vote of the voters voting on the proposition, but the annexation must be authorized before a community municipal corporation is created."

"Sec. 33. RCW 70.44.040 and 1990 c 259 s 39 are each amended to read as follows:

The provisions of Title 29 RCW relating to elections shall govern public hospital districts, except that: (1) The total vote cast upon the proposition to form a hospital district shall exceed forty percent of the total number of votes cast in the precincts comprising the proposed district at the preceding general and county election; and (2) in public hospital districts encompassing portions of more than one county, the total vote cast upon the proposition to form the district shall exceed forty percent of the total number of votes cast in each portion of each county lying within the proposed district at the next preceding general and county election. If the public hospital district is coextensive with the limits of a county and if the county is not operating under a home rule charter, then, at the first election of commissioners and until any change is made in the boundaries of the public hospital district commissioner districts in accordance with RCW 29.70.100, one public hospital district commissioner shall be chosen from each of the three county commissioner districts of the county in which the public hospital district is located. If the public hospital district comprises only a portion of a county or encompasses portions of more than one county, or if the public hospital district is located in a county operating under a home rule charter, then the petition for the formation of the public hospital district shall describe three public hospital district commissioner districts, numbered consecutively, having approximately equal population and boundaries, following ward and precinct lines, as far as practicable, and, at the first election of commissioners and until any change is made in the boundaries of the public hospital district commissioner districts in accordance with RCW 29.70.100, one commissioner shall be elected from each of the public hospital district commissioner districts described in the petition. If the boundaries described in the petition for the formation of a public hospital district are changed prior to the election on the proposition for the formation of the public hospital district, then the auditor of the county in which the public hospital district is located or, if the public hospital district encompasses portions of more than one county, the auditor of the county in which the largest portion of the public hospital district is located shall redetermine the boundaries of the commissioner districts in accordance with the above provisions. Any candidate for a particular public hospital district commissioner district position must be a registered voter of that commissioner district. Public hospital district commissioners shall hold office for the term of six years and until their successors are elected and qualified, each term to commence on the first day in January following the election. At the election at which the proposition is submitted to the voters as to whether a district shall be formed, three commissioners shall be elected to hold office, respectively, for the terms of two, four, and six years. All candidates shall be voted upon by the entire district, and the candidate residing in commissioner district No. 1 receiving the highest number of votes in the hospital district shall hold office for the term of six years; the candidate residing in commissioner district No. 2 receiving the highest number of votes in the hospital district shall hold office for the term of four years; and the candidate residing in commissioner district No. 3 receiving the highest number of votes in the hospital district shall hold office for the term of two years. The first commissioners to be elected shall take office immediately when qualified in accordance with RCW 29.01.135. Each term of the initial commissioners shall date from the time above specified following the organizational election, but shall also include the period intervening between the organizational election and the first day of January following the next district general election: PROVIDED, That in public hospital districts ((encompassing portions of more than one county, the total vote cast upon the proposition to form the district shall exceed forty percent of the total number of votes cast in each portion of each county lying within the proposed district at the next preceding general county election. The portion of the proposed district located within each county shall constitute a separate commissioner district. There shall be three district commissioners whose terms shall be six years. Each district shall be designated by the name of the county in which it is located. All candidates for commissioners shall be voted upon by the entire district. Not more than one commissioner shall reside in any one district: PROVIDED FURTHER, That in the event there are only two districts then two commissioners may reside in one district. The term of each commissioner shall commence on the first day in January in each year following his election. At the election at which the proposition is submitted to the voters as to whether a district shall be formed, three commissioners shall be elected to hold office, respectively, for the terms of two, four, and six years. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes within the district, as constituted by the election, shall serve a term of six years; the candidate receiving the next highest number of votes shall hold office for a term of four years; and the candidate receiving the next highest number of votes shall hold office for a term of two years: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the holding of each such term of office shall be subject to the residential requirements for district commissioners hereinbefore set forth in this section)) created with five or seven commissioners pursuant to RCW 70.44.051 the commissioners shall be elected and the initial terms of office shall be determined as provided in RCW 70.44.055 and 70.44.057."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 34. This act shall not be construed as affecting any public hospital district created prior to the effective date of this act."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 35. A new section is added to chapter 36.32 RCW to read as follows:

A county when calling for competitive bids for the procurement of road maintenance materials may award to multiple bidders for the same commodity when the bid specifications provide for the factors of haul distance to be included in the determination of which vendor is truly the lowest price to the county. The county may readvertise for additional bidders and vendors if it deems it necessary in the public interest."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 36. Tax levies authorized by voter approval of a ballot proposition submitted by a city under RCW 84.55.050 at an election held prior to 1988 for the purpose of funding the cost of library improvements, plus the costs of borrowing such amount for up to twenty years, may be levied in the amounts and in the years authorized by the voters in addition to the levies otherwise allowed by this chapter until the expiration of the limited period or satisfaction of the limited purpose so authorized, whichever comes first, notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 84.55.050(2). This act is curative and shall apply retroactively to all limited ballot propositions described herein. The elections at which any such ballot propositions were submitted, and the tax levies authorized thereby, shall be valid and effective in all respects. This act shall not be construed to adversely affect the validity or reduce the amount of any tax levies authorized by any other ballot proposition heretofore or hereafter submitted under RCW 84.55.050."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 37. It is the purpose of this chapter to regulate certain adult entertainment businesses to promote the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the state of Washington. The legislature finds that these businesses, when unregulated, promote illegal activities including obscenity, pornography, assaults, drug offenses, sexual offenses, and prostitution."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 38. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Adult entertainment business" means a nightclub, bar, restaurant, theater, concert hall, auditorium, or similar commercial establishment that regularly features live performances by nude or seminude persons.

(2) "Applicant" means a person or persons applying for a license under this chapter.

(3) "Business license" means a license issued by the department under this chapter to an adult entertainment business.

(4) "Department" means the department of licensing.

(5) "Director" means the director of licensing.

(6) "Licensee" means a person or persons in whose name a license has been issued under this chapter.

(7) "Nude" means a state of dress that exposes a person's bare buttock, anus, genital, or breast, or a state of dress which fails to cover opaquely a person's buttock, anus, genital, or areola of the breast.

(8) "Own or operate" means a person has a substantial interest in an adult entertainment business.

(9) "Performer's license" means a license issued by the department under this chapter to a performer in an adult entertainment business.

(10) "Seminude" means a state of dress other than nude that, with respect to a person's torso, opaquely covers only the buttocks, anus, genitals, and areolae of the breasts, as well as portions of the body covered by supporting straps or devices.

(11) "Substantial interest" means the interest possessed by a person when:

(a) With respect to a sole proprietorship, the person, or his or her marital community, owns, operates, manages, or conducts, directly or indirectly, the business, or any part of it; or

(b) With respect to a partnership, the person or his or her marital community, shares in any of the profits, or potential profits, of the business; or

(c) With respect to a corporation, the person or his or her spouse, is an officer, or director, or the person or his or her marital community is a holder, directly or beneficially, of ten percent or more of any class of stock of the business; or

(d) With respect to an organization not covered in (a), (b), or (c) of this subsection, the person or his or her spouse, is an officer or manages the business affairs, or the person or his or her marital community is owner of or otherwise controls ten percent or more of the assets of the business; or

(e) The person, or his or her marital community, furnishes ten percent or more of the capital, whether in cash, goods, or services, for the operation of the business during any calendar year."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 39. (1) It is a gross misdemeanor for a person to own, operate, or manage, or act as the agent for one who owns, operates, or manages, an adult entertainment business in the state of Washington unless the person has obtained a business license pursuant to this chapter.

(2) It is a gross misdemeanor for a performer to appear nude or seminude in an adult entertainment business unless the performer has obtained a performer's license pursuant to this chapter."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 40. (1) Each owner, operator, manager, or agent of a business must obtain and maintain a separate business license.

(2) An application for a business license must be made on a form provided by the department. The applicant shall provide: (a) The name, address, phone number, and date of birth of the applicant; (b) two passport-size color photographs of the applicant; (c) the applicant's principal occupation; (d) a description of the proposed establishment; (e) the nature of the proposed business; (f) the trade name of the proposed business; (g) location of the proposed business; (h) a list of all prior business license numbers; (i) a record of all prior criminal convictions for any offense listed under section 57(1) of this act; and (j) such other information as the department may require by rule.

(3) The department shall require the applicant to submit to fingerprinting to assist the Washington state patrol in conducting a background check under section 65 of this act.

(4) At the time of applying, the applicant shall post notice of the application at the proposed business location in a form and manner as required by the department by rule."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 41. (1) The department shall grant or refuse a business license in accordance with this chapter.

(2) Every business license shall be issued in the name of the applicant or applicants, and the holder of a license shall not allow any other person to use it.

(3) No business license may be issued to:

(a) An individual, partnership, or corporation, unless qualified to obtain a business license, as provided in this chapter;

(b) An applicant whose business is conducted by a manager or agent, unless the manager or agent possesses the same qualifications as are required of the business licensee;

(c) A corporation, unless it was created under the laws of the state of Washington or holds a certificate of authority to transact business in the state of Washington;

(d) An applicant who is under eighteen years of age;

(e) An applicant who has failed to provide information reasonably necessary for issuance of the business license or who has falsely answered a question or request for information on the application form; or

(f) An applicant who has proposed the location of the business within a zone where such use is prohibited by state or local authority.

(4) Upon receipt of an application for a business license, the department shall give notice of the application to the chief executive officer of the incorporated city or town, if the application is for a business license within an incorporated city or town, or to the county legislative authority, if the application is for a business license outside the boundaries of incorporated cities or towns, or to all the appropriate executive officers in the case of a regional adult entertainment business plan. Upon the granting of a business license under this chapter the department shall send a duplicate of the license or written notification to the chief executive officer of the incorporated city or town in which the license is granted, or to the county legislative authority if the license is granted outside the boundaries of incorporated cities or towns, or to all chief executive officers of impacted cities, towns, or counties participating in a regional adult entertainment business plan.

(5)(a) Except as set forth in (b) of this subsection, the department shall not issue an initial business license covering any premises, if at the time the initial license is to be issued the premises are within a buffer zone of one thousand feet surrounding any residential zone, single or multifamily dwelling, church, park, playground, day care center, or elementary or secondary school. The one thousand feet shall be measured on a straight line between the closest points of the property on which the premises are located and the property of the residential zone, dwelling, church, park, playground, day care center, or school. For the purpose of this section, church means a building erected for and used exclusively for religious worship and schooling or other activity in connection with the worship and schooling. The department may rely on the measurements of the relevant local jurisdictions in determining the boundaries of a buffer zone.

(b) The legislative authority of a city, town, or county:

(i) May establish a buffer zone less than that established in (a) of this subsection if the legislative authority finds (A) that the adverse secondary effects of adult entertainment businesses on public health, safety, or welfare would not be greater as a result of the smaller buffer zone or (B) that failure to establish a smaller buffer zone will effectively prohibit any adult entertainment business in the city, town, or county and there is no regional agreement with neighboring cities, towns, or counties that provides adequate opportunities for such businesses; or

(ii) May establish a buffer zone greater than that established in (a) of this subsection if the legislative authority finds (A) that the adverse secondary effects of adult entertainment businesses on public health, safety, or welfare would not be reasonably and effectively mitigated without the larger buffer zone and (B) that establishing a larger buffer zone will not effectively prohibit any adult entertainment business in the city, town, or county, or that there is a regional agreement with neighboring cities, towns, or counties that provides adequate opportunities for such businesses.

(c) If the location requirements established pursuant to this chapter effectively preclude location of adult entertainment businesses within a city, town, or county, such city, town, or county shall join with neighboring cities, towns, or counties in a regional adult entertainment business location plan in order to provide reasonable opportunity for location of adult entertainment businesses in the regional area."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 42. (1) The department may, subject to the provisions of this chapter and as provided by rule, suspend or cancel a business license; and all rights of the licensee under this chapter shall be suspended or terminated, as the case may be.

(2) Upon receipt of notice of the suspension or cancellation of a business license, the licensee shall forthwith deliver the license to the department. Where the business license has been suspended only, the department shall return the license to the licensee at the expiration or termination of the period of suspension."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 43. (1) Every business license issued under this chapter is subject to all conditions and restrictions imposed by this chapter. All conditions and restrictions imposed by the department in the issuance of an individual business license shall be listed on the face of the individual license along with the trade name, address, and expiration date.

(2) Every business licensee shall post and keep posted its license in a conspicuous place on the premises."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 44. The department shall not issue a business license to a transferee until the transferee has applied for and received a business license under this chapter."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 45. (1)(a) At the time of the original issuance of a business license, the department shall prorate the license fee charged to the new licensee according to the number of calendar quarters, or portion thereof, remaining until the first renewal of that license is required.

(b) Unless canceled sooner, every business license issued by the department shall expire at midnight of the thirtieth day of June of the fiscal year for which it was issued. However, if the department deems it feasible and desirable to do so, it may establish, by rule pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW, a system for staggering the annual renewal dates for business licenses. If such a system of staggered annual renewal dates is established by the department, the business license fees provided by this chapter shall be appropriately prorated during the first year that the system is in effect.

(2) The adult entertainment business license fee shall be established under RCW 43.24.086, but shall be at least seven hundred fifty dollars per annum, and shall be paid at the time of application. One-half of the fee shall be refunded if the application is withdrawn prior to a denial of the license by the department."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 46. (1) The holder of a business license may not assign or transfer the license, except that a transfer may be made to the surviving spouse of a deceased licensee if the transferor and transferee were maintaining a marital community and the license was issued in the name of one or both of them.

(2) A change in an owner or operator of a licensed business or a change in the manager or agent of a business must be reported to the department within thirty days, and any new owner, operator, manager, or agent must meet the requirements of section 41 of this act. The department shall charge a fee established under RCW 43.24.086 that is at least seventy-five dollars for the processing of a change in an owner, operator, manager, or agent."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 47. The department in suspending a business license may further provide in the order of suspension that such suspension shall be vacated upon payment to the department by the licensee of a monetary penalty in an amount fixed by the department but not to exceed ten thousand dollars."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 48. (1)(a) An application for a performer's license must be made on a form provided by the department. The performer shall provide the following: (i) The performer's name, including all aliases, address, phone number, and date of birth; (ii) two passport-size color photographs of the performer; (iii) principal occupation; (iv) the name and address of any business, if known, at which the performer will perform; (v) a list of all prior performer's license numbers; (vi) a record of all prior criminal convictions for any offense listed under section 57(1) of this act; and (v) such other information as the department may require by rule.

(b) The department shall require the applicant to submit to fingerprinting to assist the Washington state patrol in conducting a background check under section 65 of this act.

(c) Identifying information provided by an applicant under this subsection is exempt from public disclosure, and the department shall not disclose such information except to the extent necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this chapter, or to comply with a request from another governmental entity, or to comply with a court order.

(2) No performer's license may be issued to:

(a) A performer who is under eighteen years of age;

(b) A performer who has failed to provide information reasonably necessary for issuance of the license or has falsely answered a question or request for information on the application form.

(3) The performer's license fee shall be established under RCW 43.24.086, but shall be at least seventy-five dollars per annum and shall be paid at the time of application. One-half of the fee shall be refunded if the application is withdrawn prior to denial of the license by the department.

(4) Every performer shall keep his or her performer's license on the premises while performing."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 49. Every business licensed under section 41 of this act shall file monthly reports with the department pursuant to rule. The reports shall include the following: (1) The name, address, date of birth, and the performer's license number for all performers appearing nude or seminude during the month; and (2) such further information as the department may require."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 50. An action, order, or decision of the department as to a denial of an application for the issuance or renewal of a business or performer's license or as to a revocation, suspension, or modification of a license is subject to the applicable provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW.

(1) An opportunity for a hearing must be provided a licensee prior to a revocation or modification of a business or performer's license and, except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, prior to the suspension of a license.

(2) No hearing shall be required until demanded by the applicant or licensee.

(3) The department may summarily suspend a business or performer's license for a period of up to thirty days without a prior hearing if it finds that public health, safety, or welfare imperatively requires emergency action, and incorporates a finding to that effect in its order; and proceedings for revocation or other action must be promptly instituted and determined."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 51. No provision in this chapter limits the authority of cities, towns, and counties from further regulating adult entertainment businesses as to hours of operation, location of premises, or manner of operation.

The provisions of this chapter relating to the licensing of any adult entertainment business shall not be exclusive and any city, town, or county within whose jurisdiction the adult entertainment business is located may require any registrations or licenses, or charge any fee for the same or similar purpose; and nothing in this chapter shall limit or abridge the authority of any city, town, or county to levy and collect a general and nondiscriminatory license fee levied upon all businesses, or to levy a tax based upon gross business conducted by any firm within the city, town, or county."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 52. The director has the following authority:

(1) To adopt, amend, or repeal such rules as are deemed necessary to carry out this chapter;

(2) To investigate all complaints or reports of conduct in violation of this chapter and to hold hearings as provided in this chapter;

(3) To issue subpoenas and administer oaths in connection with any investigation, hearing, or proceeding held under this chapter;

(4) To take or cause depositions to be taken and use other discovery procedures as needed in any investigation, hearing, or proceeding held under this chapter;

(5) To compel attendance of witnesses at hearings;

(6) To take emergency action ordering summary suspension of a business or performer's license, or restriction or limitation of the licensee's practice pending further disciplinary action under section 57 of this act;

(7) To use the office of administrative hearings as authorized in chapter 34.12 RCW to conduct hearings. However, the director or the director's designee shall make the final decision in the hearing;

(8) To enter into contracts for professional services determined to be necessary for adequate enforcement of this chapter;

(9) To grant or deny business or performer's license applications, and to impose any sanction against a license applicant or license holder provided by this chapter;

(10) To establish or increase in accordance with RCW 43.24.086 business and performer's license fees above the minimum set by this chapter;

(11) To enter into an assurance of discontinuance in lieu of issuing a statement of charges or conducting a hearing. The assurance shall consist of a statement of the law in question and an agreement not to violate the stated provision. The applicant or license holder shall not be required to admit to any violation of the law, nor shall the assurance be construed as such an admission. Violation of an assurance under this subsection is grounds for disciplinary action;

(12) To designate individuals authorized to sign subpoenas and statements of charges; and

(13) To employ such investigative, administrative, and clerical staff as necessary for the enforcement of this chapter."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 53. A person, including but not limited to a customer, licensee, corporation, organization, or state or local governmental agency, may submit a written complaint to the department charging a business or performer's license holder or applicant with a violation of this chapter. If the department determines that the complaint merits investigation, or if the department has reason to believe, without a formal complaint, that a license holder or applicant may have violated this chapter, the department may investigate to determine whether there has been a violation. A person who files a complaint under this section in good faith is immune from suit in any civil action related to the filing or contents of the complaint."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 54. (1) If the department determines, upon investigation pursuant to section 53 of this act, that there is reason to believe a violation of this chapter has occurred, a statement of charge or charges may be prepared and served upon the business or performer's license holder or applicant. The statement of charge or charges shall be accompanied by a notice that the license holder or applicant may request a hearing to contest the charge or charges. The license holder or applicant must file a request for hearing with the department within twenty days after being served the statement of charges. The failure to request a hearing constitutes a default, upon which the director or the director's designee may enter an order pursuant to RCW 34.05.440(1).

(2) If a hearing is requested, the time of the hearing shall be scheduled but the hearing shall not be held earlier than thirty days after service of the charges upon the license holder or applicant. A notice of hearing shall be issued at least twenty days prior to the hearing, specifying the time, date, and place of the hearing."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 55. The procedures governing adjudicative proceedings before agencies under chapter 34.05 RCW, the administrative procedure act, govern all hearings requested under section 54 of this act."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 56. (1) Upon a finding that a business or performer's license holder or applicant has engaged in conduct or violated conditions that are grounds for denial of a license or for disciplinary action under section 57 of this act, the director may issue an order providing for one or any combination of the following:

(a) Revocation of the license;

(b) Suspension of the license for a fixed or indefinite term;

(d) Compliance with conditions of probation for a designated period of time;

(e) Payment of a fine for each violation of this chapter, not to exceed one thousand dollars per violation, which shall be paid to the department;

(f) Denial of the license request.

(2) Any of the actions under this section may be totally or partly stayed by the director. All costs associated with compliance with orders issued under this section are the obligation of the license holder or applicant."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 57. The following conduct, acts, or conditions, constitute grounds for denial of a license or for disciplinary action against any business or performer's license holder or applicant under the jurisdiction of this chapter:

(1) With respect to a license holder, commission of an act that constitutes an obscenity or pornography offense under chapter 9.68 RCW, a sexual exploitation of children offense under chapter 9.68A RCW, an assault under chapter 9A.36 RCW, a sexual offense under chapter 9A.44 RCW, a prostitution or indecent exposure offense under chapter 9A.88 RCW, a drug offense under chapter 69.41, 69.50, 69.52, or 69.53 RCW, or a substantially similar ordinance adopted by the legislative authority of a city, town, or county or other state statute. Conviction in a criminal proceeding is not a condition precedent to disciplinary action under this section. Upon a conviction, however, the judgment and sentence is conclusive evidence at an ensuing disciplinary hearing of the guilt of the license holder or applicant of the crime described in the indictment or information, and of the person's violation of the statute on which it is based. For the purposes of this section, conviction includes a plea of guilty or nolo contendere and also includes all sentence deferrals or suspensions;

(2) Misrepresentation or concealment of a material fact in obtaining a license or in license reinstatement;

(3) All advertising that is false, fraudulent, or misleading;

(4) Failure to cooperate with the department in the conduct of an investigation by:

(a) Not furnishing any requested papers or documents;

(b) Not furnishing in writing a full and complete explanation regarding the matter under investigation; or

(c) Not responding to subpoenas issued by the director, whether or not the recipient of the subpoena is the subject of the investigation;

(5) Failure to comply with an order issued by the director or an assurance of discontinuance entered into with the director;

(6) Aiding and abetting an unlicensed person to own or operate a business or to perform when a license is required;

(7) Interference with an investigation or disciplinary proceeding by willful misrepresentation of facts before the director or the director's authorized representative, or by the use of threats or harassment against any witness to prevent him or her from providing evidence in a disciplinary proceeding or any other legal action;

(8) Violating this chapter or any rule adopted pursuant to this chapter."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 58. (1) The director shall investigate complaints under this chapter concerning ownership or operation of a business without a license or performing without a license. In the investigation of the complaints, the director shall have the same authority as provided the director under section 52 of this act. The director shall issue a cease and desist order to a person after notice and hearing and upon a determination that the person has owned or operated a business without a license, or has performed without a license, in violation of this chapter. If the director makes a written finding of fact that the public interest will be irreparably harmed by delay in issuing an order, the director may issue a temporary cease and desist order before the notice and hearing. A cease and desist order does not relieve the person so owning or operating a business or performing without a license from criminal prosecution. The remedy of a cease and desist order is in addition to any criminal liability. A cease and desist order is conclusive proof of unlicensed practice and may be enforced through remedial sanctions under chapter 7.21 RCW. Enforcement of the cease and desist order under chapter 7.21 RCW may be used in addition to, or as an alternative to, any provisions for enforcement of agency orders set out in chapter 34.05 RCW.

(2) The attorney general, a county prosecuting attorney, the department, or any person may, in accordance with the law of this state governing injunctions, maintain an action to enjoin any person owning or operating a business, or performing, without a license required by this chapter from continuing such ownership, operation, or performing until the required license is secured. However, an injunction does not relieve a person from criminal prosecution and the remedy by injunction is in addition to any criminal liability."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 59. A person or business that violates an injunction issued under this chapter shall pay a civil penalty, as determined by the court, of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars, which shall be paid to the department. For the purpose of this section, the superior court issuing any injunction shall retain jurisdiction and the cause shall be continued, and in such cases the attorney general acting in the name of the state may petition for the recovery of civil penalties."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 60. (1) The director or individuals acting on the director's behalf are immune from suit in any civil or criminal action based on any disciplinary proceedings or other official acts performed in the course of their duties in the administration and enforcement of this chapter.

(2) Legislative authorities of cities, towns, and counties are immune from suit in any civil or criminal action based on any official acts performed in the course of their duties in the administration or enforcement of this chapter.

In any challenge to location, distance, or conduct requirements imposed by the legislative authority of a city, town, or county pursuant to this chapter, the legislative authority may request that the state assume some or all of the obligation to defend the constitutionality of this chapter. The attorney general may grant or deny the request. Nothing in this chapter creates any state liability for actions of a city, town, or county."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 61. Existing adult entertainment businesses are exempt from any location restrictions imposed by this chapter until January 1, 1995."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 62. It is a gross misdemeanor for any person to permit any person under the age of eighteen on the premises of any adult entertainment business under his or her control."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 63. It is a class C felony for any person to employ or permit any person under the age of eighteen to appear nude or seminude on the premises of any adult entertainment business under his or her control."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 64. Sections 37 through 63 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 18 RCW."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 65. A new section is added to chapter 43.43 RCW to read as follows:

The department of licensing may request information from the Washington state patrol criminal identification system regarding the conviction of offenses listed under section 57(1) of this act for any applicant or for a license holder who is the subject of an investigation under section 53 of this act."

"Sec. 66. RCW 7.48A.040 and 1985 c 235 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) No person shall with knowledge maintain a moral nuisance.

(2) Upon a determination that a defendant has with knowledge maintained a moral nuisance, the court shall impose a civil fine and judgment of an amount as the court shall determine to be appropriate. In imposing the civil fine, the court shall consider the wilfulness of the defendant's conduct and the profits made by the defendant attributable to the lewd matter, lewdness, or prostitution, whichever is applicable. In no event shall the civil fine exceed the greater of ((~~twenty-five~~)) fifty thousand dollars or these profits."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 67. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 68. Sections 37 through 70 of this act shall take effect January 1, 1992. The department of licensing may take such steps before then, including the adoption of rules, as are necessary to ensure that sections 37 through 70 of this act are implemented on January 1, 1992."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 69. The municipal research council, created under chapter 43.110 RCW, in conjunction with the association of Washington cities, shall report to the legislature by January 1, 1993, regarding the implementation of the regulation of certain adult entertainment businesses as provided in sections 37 through 68 of this act. The report shall also examine the effectiveness of these provisions in reducing illegal activity on or near the adult entertainment businesses, and contain further suggested legislative enactments designed to reduce illegal activities associated with these businesses, including, but not limited to, obscenity, pornography, assaults, drug offenses, sexual offenses, and prostitution."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 70. The provisions of the open public meetings act, contained in chapter 42.30 RCW, shall apply to all meetings conducted by the governing body of a public agency regarding the regulation of adult entertainment businesses pursuant to sections 37 through 69 of this act."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 71. PURPOSE. Voters of the unincorporated areas of the state are authorized to establish community councils as provided in this chapter.

It is the purpose of this chapter to provide voters of unincorporated areas with direct input on the planning and zoning of their community by establishing a governmental mechanism to adopt community comprehensive plans and community zoning ordinances that are consistent with components or portions of the county comprehensive plan that the county legislative authority designates as having area-wide applicability and importance. Community comprehensive plans shall replace components or portions of the county comprehensive plan that are not designated as having area-wide applicability and importance, and the subarea plan that the county legislative authority may have adopted for the community. In addition, it is the purpose of this chapter to have community councils serve as forums for the discussion of local issues."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 72. DEFINITIONS. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Community" means a portion of the unincorporated area of a county for which a community council has been established.

(2) "Community comprehensive plan" means a comprehensive plan adopted by a community council.

(3) "Community council" means the governing body established under this chapter to adopt community comprehensive plans and community zoning ordinances for a community.

(4) "Community zoning ordinances" means the zoning ordinances adopted by a community council to implement a community comprehensive plan."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 73. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR A COMMUNITY COUNCIL. A community for which a community council is created may include only unincorporated territory located in a single county and not included within a city or town. A community council must have at least one thousand persons residing within the community when the community council is created or, where the community only includes an entire island, at least three hundred persons must reside on the island when the community council is created. Any portion of such a community that is annexed by a city or town, or is incorporated as a city or town, shall be removed from the community upon the effective date of the annexation or the official date of the incorporation."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 74. CREATION. (1) The process to create a community council shall be initiated by the filing of petitions with the county auditor of the county in which the community is located which: (a) Call for the creation of a community council; (b) set forth the boundaries for the community; (c) indicate the number of community councilmembers, which shall be five, seven, nine, or eleven; and (d) contain signatures of voters residing within the community equal in number to at least ten percent of the voters residing in the community who voted at the last state general election. The county auditor shall determine if the petitions contain a sufficient number of valid signatures and certify the sufficiency of the petitions within fifteen days of when the petitions were filed. If the petitions are certified as having sufficient valid signatures, the county auditor shall transmit the petitions and certificate to the county legislative authority.

(2) The county legislative authority shall hold a public hearing within the community on the creation of the proposed community council no later than sixty days after the petitions and certificate of sufficiency were transmitted to the county legislative authority. Notice of the public hearing shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the community for at least once a week for two consecutive weeks, with the last date of publication no more than ten days prior to the date of the public hearing. At least ten days before the public hearing, additional notice shall be posted conspicuously in at least five places within the proposed community in a manner designed to attract public attention.

(3) After receiving testimony on the creation of the proposed community council, the county legislative authority may alter the boundaries of the community, but the boundaries may not be altered to reduce the number of persons living within the community by more than ten percent or below the minimum number of residents who must reside within the community at the time of the creation of the community council. If territory is added to the community, another public hearing on the proposal shall be held.

(4) The county legislative authority shall call a special election within the community to determine whether the proposed community council shall be created, and to elect the initial community councilmembers, at the next state general election occurring seventy-five or more days after the initial public hearing on the creation of the proposed community council. The community council shall be created if the ballot proposition authorizing the creation of the community is approved by a simple majority vote of the voters voting on the proposition."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 75. ELECTION OF INITIAL COMMUNITY COUNCILMEMBERS. The initial members of the community council shall be elected at the same election as the ballot proposition is submitted authorizing the creation of the community council. However, the election of the initial community councilmembers shall be null and void if the ballot proposition authorizing the creation of the community council is not approved.

No primary election shall be held to nominate candidates for initial council positions. The initial community council shall consist of the candidate for each council position who receives the greatest number of votes for that council position. Staggering of terms of office shall be accomplished by having the majority of the winning candidates who receive the greatest number of votes being elected to four-year terms of office, and the remaining winning candidates being elected to two-year terms of office, if the election was held in an even-numbered year, or the majority of the winning candidates who receive the greatest number of votes being elected to three-year terms of office, and the remaining winning candidates being elected to one-year terms of office, if the election was held in an odd-numbered year, with the term computed from the first day of January in the year following the election. Initial councilmembers shall take office immediately when qualified in accordance with RCW 29.01.135.

However, where the county operates under a charter providing for the election of members of the county legislative authority in odd-numbered years, the terms of office of the initial councilmembers shall be four years and two years, if the election of the initial councilmembers was held on an odd-numbered year, or three years and one year, if the election of the initial councilmembers was held on an even-numbered year."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 76. COMMUNITY COUNCILMEMBERS. Community councilmembers shall be elected to staggered four-year terms until their successors are elected and qualified. Each council position shall be numbered separately. Candidates shall run for specific council positions. The number of council positions shall be five, seven, nine, or eleven, as specified in the petition calling for the creation of the community council.

Community councilmembers shall be nominated and elected at nonpartisan elections pursuant to general election laws, except the elections shall be held in even-numbered years, unless the county operates under a charter and members of the county legislative authority are elected in odd-numbered years, in which case, community councilmembers shall be elected in odd-numbered years.

The provisions of this section apply to the election and terms of office of the initial community councilmembers, except as provided in section 75 of this act.

A councilmember shall lose his or her council position if his or her primary residence no longer is located within the community. Vacancies on a community council shall be filled by action of the remaining councilmembers."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 77. RESPONSIBILITY OF COUNTY LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY. (1) Within ninety days of the election at which a community council is created, the county legislative authority shall adopt an ordinance designating those portions or components of the county comprehensive plan having area-wide applicability and importance throughout the unincorporated area of the county that shall serve as an overall guide for the development of community comprehensive plans and community zoning ordinances.

(2) Community comprehensive plans and community zoning ordinances that are adopted by a community council shall be submitted to the county legislative authority for its review of the consistency of these plans and ordinances with the portions or components of the county comprehensive plan designated as having area-wide applicability and importance under subsection (1) of this section. The county legislative authority shall either approve the plans and ordinances as adopted, or refer the plans and ordinances back to the community council with written findings of noncompliance specifying the reasons for noncompliance, within ninety days after they are submitted. The county comprehensive plan, or subarea plan and comprehensive plan, and zoning ordinances shall remain in effect in the community until the community comprehensive plans and community zoning ordinances have been approved.

(3) Each amendment to community comprehensive plans or community zoning ordinances that is adopted by a community council shall be submitted to the county legislative authority for its review of the consistency of the amendment with the portions or components of the county comprehensive plan designated as having area-wide applicability and importance under subsection (1) of this section. The county legislative authority shall either approve the amendment as adopted or refer the amendment back to the community council with written findings of noncompliance specifying the reasons for noncompliance within ninety days after it is submitted. The unamended community comprehensive plans and unamended community zoning ordinances shall remain in effect in the community until the amendment has been approved.

(4) A community council shall be given at least one hundred twenty days to amend its community comprehensive plans and community zoning ordinances after the county legislative authority amends the ordinance it adopted under subsection (1) of this section designating those portions or components of the county comprehensive plan having area-wide applicability and importance throughout the unincorporated area of the county that shall serve as an overall guide for the development of community comprehensive plans and community zoning ordinances. The county legislative authority may amend the community comprehensive plans and community zoning ordinances to achieve consistency with this amended ordinance if the community council fails to obtain approval of the community comprehensive plans and community zoning ordinances within this time period. Nothing in this subsection shall preclude a community council from subsequently obtaining approval of its community comprehensive plans and community zoning ordinances.

(5) Approved community comprehensive plans and community zoning ordinances shall be enforced by the county as if they had been adopted by the county legislative authority. All quasi-judicial actions and permits relating to these plans and ordinances shall be made and decided by the county legislative authority or otherwise as provided by the county legislative authority.

(6) The county shall be responsible for financing the activities of, and providing administrative and staff support for, each community council within its boundaries."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 78. POWERS OF A COMMUNITY COUNCIL. A community council shall adopt community comprehensive plans and community zoning ordinances as provided in section 77 of this act. Community councils shall not have the authority to take quasi-judicial actions or to decide permit applications. In addition, a community council shall serve as a forum for the discussion of local issues.

Community councils are subject to chapter 42.30 RCW, the open public meetings act."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 79. ANNEXATION. A community council may provide for the annexation of adjacent unincorporated areas to the community that are not included within another community for which a community council has been established. Annexations shall be initiated by either resolution of the community council proposing the annexation or petition of voters residing in the adjacent area, which petition: (a) Requests the annexation; (b) sets forth the boundaries of the area proposed to be annexed; and (c) contains signatures of voters residing within the area that is proposed to be annexed equal in number to at least ten percent of the voters residing in that area who voted at the last state general election. Annexation petitions shall be filed with the county auditor who shall determine if the petitions contain a sufficient number of valid signatures, certify the sufficiency of the petitions, and notify the community council of the sufficiency of the petitions within fifteen days of when the petitions are submitted.

A ballot proposition authorizing the annexation shall be submitted to the voters of the area that is proposed to be annexed at a primary or general election in either an odd-numbered or even-numbered year, if the community council initiated the annexation by resolution or if the community council concurs in an annexation that was initiated by the submission of annexation petitions containing sufficient valid signatures. The annexation shall occur if the ballot proposition authorizing the creation of the community is approved by a simple majority vote of the voters voting on the proposition. The county's comprehensive plan, and where applicable to the county's subarea plan, and zoning ordinances shall continue in effect in the annexed area until amendments to the community comprehensive plans and community zoning ordinance have been approved that apply to the annexed area."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 80. DISSOLUTION. A community council shall be dissolved if the population of the community is reduced to less than five hundred persons, or less than two hundred persons if the community only includes an entire island.

In addition, a community council shall be dissolved by voters of the community approving a ballot proposition to dissolve the community council that has been placed upon the ballot in a primary or general election held in either an odd-numbered or even-numbered year as the result of the community council adopting a resolution placing this matter on the ballot or by petition calling for the dissolution of the community council that has been certified by the county auditor as having valid signatures of voters residing within the community equal in number to at least ten percent of the voters residing in the community who voted at the last state general election. Petitions calling for the dissolution of a community council shall be filed with the county auditor and their sufficiency certified by the county auditor in the same manner as an annexation petition. The community council shall be dissolved if the ballot proposition dissolving the community council is approved by a simple majority vote of the voters voting on the proposition."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 81. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

(1) RCW 36.32.500 and 1984 c 203 s 6; and

(2) RCW 36.32.505 and 1984 c 203 s 7."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 82. Sections 71 through 80 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 36 RCW."

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 83. Section headings as used in this act do not constitute any part of the law."

SHB 1275 - S COMM AMD

By Committee on Government Operations

ADOPTED AS AMENDED 4//19/91 - Voice Vote

On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "government;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "amending RCW 29.18.022, 29.30.025, 29.21.010, 29.30.040, 35.02.020, 35.02.090, 35.06.020, 35.06.030, 35.06.050, 35.24.020, 35.24.180, 35.24.190, 35.27.010, 35.27.070, 35.27.130, 35.27.270, 35.27.280, 35A.12.010, 35A.39.010, 41.08.040, 41.12.040, 42.17.310, 54.08.010, 54.08.070, 54.08.080, 35.02.078, 35.14.010, 70.44.040, and 7.48A.040; adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 35.10 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 35A.14 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 36.32 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 18 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 36 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.43 RCW; creating new sections; repealing RCW 36.32.500 and 36.32.505; providing effective dates; and providing an expiration date."