SENATE BILL REPORT

                           SSB 5751

               AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 11, 1993

Brief Description:  Authorizing rural partial‑county library districts.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen and Spanel)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5751 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Haugen, Chairman; Drew, Vice Chairman; Loveland, Oke, von Reichbauer, and Winsley.

Staff:  Rod McAulay (786‑7754)

Hearing Dates: February 23, 1993; February 25, 1993

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

BACKGROUND:

Local public library services may be provided by:

City, town or county libraries;

Rural library districts established in the unincorporated territory of a county;

Regional libraries operated by several counties or other governmental units under a joint contract;

Intercounty rural library districts operating throughout several counties; and

Island library districts in the unincorporated area of a single island in a county consisting entirely of islands and having a population of less than 25,000 at the time the district is established.

Cities or towns may be annexed into rural library districts, intercounty rural library districts or island library districts.

SUMMARY:

Rural partial-county library districts may be created.  The process is initiated by the petition of at least 10 percent of the registered voters residing in the area proposed to be included in the district.  The proposed district must have an assessed valuation of at least $50 million.  The county legislative authority may adjust the proposed boundaries and, if they believe that the creation of the district is in the public interest, cause the question to be placed on the ballot.

A partial-county library district may annex adjacent unincorporated territory and may annex a town or city with a population of 100,000 or less.  If a rural county library district is established in the same county, the partial-county library district is dissolved and its assets and liabilities transferred to the rural library district.

Rural partial-county library districts are prohibited from being created by deannexing territory from other districts or from being consolidated with other districts without the approval of the other districts' boards.

Partial-county library districts may impose special levies with 60 percent voter approval.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

This will enable small city library systems to expand their tax base into the surrounding unincorporated territory which they serve.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Don McDonald, Mayor, LaConner; Tom Mayer, Sno-Isle Regional Library

HOUSE AMENDMENT(S):

A provision is deleted which prohibited the creation of a rural partial-county library district from the territory of another library district.  The authority of the county treasurer to receive and disburse funds of a rural partial-county library district is made clear.