SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 2140

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

           Government Operations, February 23, 1996

Title:  An act relating to elections in cities and towns.

Brief Description:  Revising election laws and procedures for cities and towns.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Representatives L. Thomas, Chopp and Murray).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  2/15/96 2/23/96 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Sheldon, Vice Chair; Goings, Hale, Heavey and McCaslin.

Staff:  Rod McAulay (786-7754)

Background:  Administration requirements for elections within cities and towns are established in statute.

Summary of Amended Bill:  Election laws for cities and towns are modified.

The responsibility of the county auditor to transmit the results of a city annexation election to the county legislative authority and to the annexing city or town is clarified.

The county auditor is required to certify signatures on an initiative petition in a city with a commission form of government.

A common format for all types of petitions for cities and towns is established.  Petitions must be signed by registered voters, instead of electors.

The requirement that the county auditor review signatures on initiative and referendum petitions in code cities and certify the sufficiency of the petitions is clarified..

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  The amended bill makes technical corrections.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This is a basic cleanup.  It corrects archaic terminology.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative L. Thomas, original prime sponsor.