S-0025.3/91       _______________________________________________

                                 SENATE BILL 5258

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

By Senators Talmadge, A. Smith and Skratek.

Read first time January 25, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Governmental Operations.Providing a referendum procedure for port district resolutions.

     AN ACT Relating to referendum procedures for port district resolutions; and adding a new section to chapter 53.12 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 53.12 RCW to read as follows:

     (1) Resolutions of port districts shall not go into effect before thirty days from the time of final passage and are subject to referendum during the interim except:

     (a) Resolutions necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety that contain a statement of urgency and are passed by unanimous vote of the commission;

     (b) Resolutions providing for local improvement districts;

     (c) Resolutions providing for or approving collective bargaining;

     (d) Resolutions providing for the compensation of or working conditions of port employees; and

     (e) Resolutions authorizing or repealing the levy of taxes.

     (2)(a) If within the thirty‑day period a petition is filed with the county auditor containing the signatures of fifteen percent of the registered voters of the district who voted in the last general election of the jurisdiction, the county auditor shall canvass the signatures in the same manner as prescribed in RCW 29.79.200 and certify their sufficiency to the port commission within thirty days.  The operation of the resolution shall be suspended until the results of the special election are certified.

     (b) Immediately after the auditor's certificate of sufficiency is issued, the auditor shall call a special election on the date specified in RCW 29.13.020 that immediately follows a forty‑five day period beginning on the date the certificate of sufficiency is issued.  The special election shall be conducted as provided by law.  If a majority of the voters voting on the resolution favor the resolution, it shall become effective immediately upon certification of the election.

     (3) This section does not apply to resolutions subject to the election procedures in RCW 53.36.100 or 53.54.040.