FINAL BILL REPORT

                           SSB 5052

                          C 199 L 93

                      SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Removing the requirement that city and town council meetings be held within the corporate limits.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Senators A. Smith, Haugen and Quigley)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

BACKGROUND:

All meetings of a town council, a city council of the third class, or a city council of a code city must be held within the corporate limits of the town or city.  There are times when it might be appropriate for these councils to meet outside their corporate boundaries.

Notice requirements for special meetings by third class cities and towns are not consistent with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act.

SUMMARY:

The requirement that town councils, city councils of the third class, or city councils of code cities meet within their corporate limits is removed.  All final actions on resolutions and ordinances must take place within the corporate limits of the city or town.

Notice requirements for special meetings by third class cities and towns are made consistent with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act.  Restrictive language on when the oath of office must be taken by a town council is deleted.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate    45   1

House     90   0    (House amended)

Senate    39   0    (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:July 25, 1993