HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 6022

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Local Government

Title:  An act relating to publication of ordinances of counties, cities and towns.

Brief Description:  Revising requirements for publication of ordinances.

Sponsors:  Senators Haugen and Winsley.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Local Government, February 25, 1994, DPA.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives H. Myers, Chair; Springer, Vice Chair; Edmondson, Ranking Minority Member; Reams, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Horn; Moak; Rayburn; Van Luven and Zellinsky.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 2 members:  Representatives Dunshee and R. Fisher.

Staff:  Steve Lundin (786-7127).

Background:  Statutes relating to each class of city or town require the city or town to publish a copy of each ordinance, or a summary of each ordinance, that is adopted.  A summary constitutes a brief description of the ordinance that succinctly describes the main points of the ordinance.

A general statute provides that whenever a county, city or town is required to publish legal notices containing the full text of any proposed or adopted ordinance, the county, city or town may publish a summary of the ordinance that includes: (1) the name of the county, city or town; (2) the formal identification or citation of the ordinance; (3) a descriptive title; (4) a section-by-section summary; (5) any other information that the local government finds necessary to provide a complete summary; and (6) a statement that the full text will be mailed upon request.

Summary of Amended Bill:  A county, city or town may publish the title of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness in lieu of a summary of the ordinance.

Every city and town is directed to provide the municipal research council or its designee with a copy of the full text of each regulatory ordinance and such other kinds of ordinances that may be described in a list promulgated by the municipal research council or its designee.  The direction to provide copies of ordinances is stated to be "directory and not mandatory."

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  A title of an ordinance could be published in lieu of a summary only if the ordinance authorizes bonds to be issued.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This would provide a tremendous cost savings to the cities.  The bill titles provide sufficient notice to citizens.

Testimony Against:  There are expenses inherent in government, and the people need to be kept informed.  The public is hearing less and less what the government is doing and is showing its frustration as evidenced by the recent votes in support of the initiatives.

Witnesses:  Stan Finkelstein, Association of Washington Cities; Glen Hudson, Washington Association of Realtors; Mike Robinson, Washington Newspaper Publishing Association; Rowland Thompson, Allied Daily Newspapers; and Tom Taylor, Peninsula Gateway.