VETO MESSAGE ON HB 1790

                   May 1, 1995

To the Honorable Speaker and Members,

  The House of Representatives of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am returning herewith, without my approval as to section 2, House Bill No. 1790 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to the appointment of the director of a combined city and county health department;"

     This bill deletes specific mention of a term of employment for the directors of combined city/county health departments, thereby making their employment consistent with that of the public health officers in other districts.

     This legislation includes an emergency clause in section 2.  In contacting the principal proponents of this measure, my office has been informed that, although this new language will prove of great importance, no jurisdiction faces an immediate issue due to this change as was the case earlier.  Given this change of circumstance, preventing this bill from being subject to a referendum under Article II, section 1(b) of the state Constitution unnecessarily denies the people of this state their power, at their own option, to approve or reject this bill at the polls.

     With the exception of section 2, House Bill No. 1790 is approved.

                   Respectfully submitted,

                   Mike Lowry

                   Governor