HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2682

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Capital Budget

Title:  An act relating to library capital facility areas.

Brief Description:  Authorizing elections to create library capital facility areas at any general or special election.

Sponsors:  Representatives Hymes, Wolfe, Honeyford and Reams.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Capital Budget:  1/30/96, 2/1/96, 2/2/96 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CAPITAL BUDGET

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 15 members:  Representatives Sehlin, Chairman; Honeyford, Vice Chairman; Ogden, Ranking Minority Member; Chopp, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Costa; Hankins; Koster; Mitchell; Pennington; Regala; Romero; Silver; D. Sommers; L. Thomas and Valle.

Staff:  Jennifer Galvin (786-7349).

Background:  Library systems may be operated by various types of library districts or by cities, towns, or counties.  A public library district may be established in a part of a county, may be county-wide, or may include several counties.  A library district is a special district with a governing body composed of either a five- or seven-member board of library trustees appointed by the county legislative authority of the county or counties in which it is located. 

Construction of new library facilities may be financed by a district-wide levy, or, in some cases, may be financed by a city or town which has been annexed into a larger library district.  Before 1995, a community smaller than the library district, or not contiguous with a city or town, had no method to finance the construction or acquisition of a new library facility.

The 1995 legislation authorizes the establishment of library capital facility areas, if approved by the majority of voters in the proposed area voting at a general election. The election is called by the legislative authority of the county or counties in which the area is located upon the receipt of a petition from the library district board.  In the petition, the governing bodies must agree to the allocation of election costs. 

The library capital facility area may issue bonds paid back through an excess levy on property in the area.  Excess levy elections may occur only at general elections.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The 1995 legislation is amended in two ways. 

1) Language is changed from library capital "facilities" area to library capital   "facility" area.

2) The vote to establish the library capital facility area and any votes for an excess levy may occur at a general or special election.  Library districts are encouraged to request elections at general elections or already scheduled special elections.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute bill encourages library districts to utilize general elections or already scheduled special elections.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The ability to use special elections will eliminate timing difficulties, which hinder the passage of library capital facility area ballot propositions.  The bill support building libraries.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Dick Cushing, City Manager, city of Olympia; and Allen Darr, International Union of Engineers.