FINAL BILL REPORT

                            SB 6061

                          C 142 L 94

                      SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Revising provisions relating to special elections to validate excess levies or bond issues.

SPONSORS: Senators Vognild, Winsley, Haugen and Sellar

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

BACKGROUND:

The election code fixes the dates for general elections, primaries and special elections.  Special elections may be called by a county legislative authority if it deems an emergency to exist by presenting a resolution to the county auditor at least 45 days prior to the proposed election date.  Special elections may be conducted in conjunction with a general election, a primary, or on specified days in February, March, April or May.  In addition to these specified days, a special election to validate an excess levy or bond issue may be called at any time to meet the needs resulting from the failure of a county, school district, or junior taxing district to pass a special levy for the first time, or from fire, flood, earthquake, or other act of God.

It is believed that the failure of a county, school district or junior taxing district to pass an excess levy or bond issue the first time does not justify the potential added expense of scheduling a special election on a date other than on one of the days specified by statute.

SUMMARY:

The authority to call a special election at any time to validate an excess levy or bond issue to meet the needs resulting from the failure of a county, school district, or junior taxing district to pass a special levy for the first time is repealed.

The special election date for April is changed from "the first Tuesday after the first Monday" to "the fourth Tuesday."

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate    37   8

House     96   0    (House amended)

Senate    40   3    (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:January 1, 1995