H-1723.1          _______________________________________________

                                  HOUSE BILL 2090

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

By Representatives Anderson, McLean, Pruitt and Bowman.

Read first time February 22, 1991.  Referred to Committee on State Government.Defining the "short term" for elective offices.

     AN ACT Relating to short terms of elective offices; and amending RCW 29.01.180.

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

     Sec. 1.  RCW 29.01.180 and 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 120 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:

     "Short term" ((means)) for a nonpartisan office refers to the brief period of time starting upon the completion of the certification of ((election)) returns of an election to fill a full term for the office and ending with the start of the full term ((on the second Tuesday of the next January immediately following the election and is applicable only when)) for the office.  A short term for a nonpartisan office exists only if the office concerned is ((being)) held on the date of the election by an appointee to fill a vacancy ((which occurred after the last election, at which such office could have been voted upon for an unexpired term, prior to the election for such office for the subsequent full term)) in the office.  A short term does not exist for the office of school district director.

"Short term" for a partisan office refers to the brief period of time starting upon the completion of the certification of the returns of an election to fill a full term for the office and ending with the start of the full term for the office.  A short term in a partisan office exists if a vacancy exists in the office on the date the election is held or if the office is, on the date of that election, held by a person appointed to fill a vacancy in the office.