H-2484.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1853

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State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Smith and Bush)

Read first time 03/05/97.

Establishing procedure and requirements for the removal and transfer of a portion of certain cities or towns from one school district to another.

    AN ACT Relating to the relationship between school district boundaries and the boundaries of a city or town with a population of less than three thousand; creating new sections; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that consistent with the goal of growth management that public services and facilities necessary to support development be available without a decrease in service levels, citizens should have the opportunity to decide whether all land in a planned community which includes industrial, commercial, and residential sites will be in the same school district.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 28A.315.250, the governing body of a city or town, with a population of less than three thousand, that includes territory located in two school districts may call a special election to be held at which voters authorize the removal of either portion of the city or town from one school district and the transfer of that portion of the city or town to the other school district, under the following conditions: (1) One of the two school districts either borders a United States military reservation or includes territory located in a United States military reservation; and (2) a public school building is not located in the territory that is so removed and transferred.

    The special election shall be held at a special election date specified under RCW 29.13.020 at which a ballot proposition authorizing the removal and transfer of the portion of the city or town from one school district to the other school district is submitted to the voters of the entire city or town.  If the ballot proposition is approved by a simple majority vote of voters of that portion of the city or town voting on the ballot proposition, the educational service district superintendent within which the school districts are located shall make an order so altering the boundaries of the school districts.  The cost of the election must be paid by the city or town.

    This section expires January 1, 1999.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.

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