FINAL BILL REPORT

                   SB 6428

                          C 313 L 96

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Revising irrigation district mergers.

Sponsors:  Senators Newhouse and Haugen.

Senate Committee on Government Operations

House Committee on Government Operations

Background:  Special districts include drainage improvement districts, joint drainage improvement districts, or consolidated drainage improvement districts.  When a special district desires to merge with an irrigation district in which the lands of the special district are located, petition for merger may be made to the board of county commissioners.  The board of supervisors of the special district signs the petition, which is then presented to the clerk of the board of county commissioners.

The merger of irrigation districts does not come under the purview of a boundary review board.

A desire has been expressed that the process for merging special districts with an irrigation district be consolidated and streamlined.

Summary:  Either the special district's board of supervisors or ten landowners within the affected district are allowed to sign the petition requesting a merger.

Boundary review boards have no jurisdiction over the merger of a drainage improvement district, joint drainage improvement district, or consolidated drainage improvement district into an irrigation district.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate    49 0

House     93 0 (House amended)

Senate    44 0 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  June 6, 1996