HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 6278

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                  Government Administration

Title:  An act relating to specifying the number of signatures required on a petition to place on the ballot the question of changing the name of a port district.

Brief Description:  Specifying the number of signatures required on a petition to place on the ballot the question of changing the name of a port district.

Sponsors:  Senators Horn, McCaslin and T. Sheldon.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Government Administration:  2/18/98 [DPA].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives D. Schmidt, Chairman; D. Sommers, Vice Chairman; Scott, Ranking Minority Member; Doumit; Dunn; Dunshee; Murray; L. Thomas; Wensman and Wolfe.

Staff:  Caroleen Dineen (786-7156).

Background:  Port districts are municipal corporations authorized to control and manage specified functions, including harbor and industrial improvements and rail, motor, air and water transfer and terminal facilities.  A county legislative authority:  (a) may decide to submit a proposal to create a port district to county voters; or (b) is required to submit a proposal upon receipt of a petition signed by 10 percent of  registered county voters based on the total vote in the last general county election.  The proposal to create a port district is approved by majority vote.   

The corporate name of any port district may be changed under certain conditions. The port district commissioners are required to submit a proposal to change the name of the port district upon receiving a petition requesting such a change that is signed by at least 250 registered voters residing in the port district.  The name change proposal is approved by majority vote. 

Summary of Amended Bill:  The minimum number of signatures required to submit a name change proposal to voters is increased in statute.  Port district commissioners are required to submit a name change proposal to port district voters at a general port election upon receiving a petition requesting such a change that is signed by at least 10 percent of port district voters who voted at the last general port election.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Clarifies that the port name change proposal must be submitted at a general port election.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Changing the threshold to 10 percent will make port name change petition requirements the same as other types of petitions.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Horn, prime sponsor; and Scott Taylor, Washington Public Ports Association.