H-3197.1  _______________________________________________

                    HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 4213

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representative Sheldon

Read first time .  Referred to Committee on .

Amending the state Constitution to exempt laws authorizing establishment of stadium and exhibition centers by public stadium authorities from certain limitations.

    BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:

    THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state the secretary of state shall submit to the qualified voters of the state for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to Article I, section 12, Article VIII, sections 5 and 7, and Article XI, section 9 of the Constitution of the state of Washington to read as follows:

    Article I, section 12.  No law shall be passed granting to any citizen, class of citizens, or corporation other than municipal, privileges or immunities which upon the same terms shall not equally belong to all citizens, or corporations.

This section does not apply to a law enacted before January 1, 1998, that authorizes a public stadium authority to establish a stadium and exhibition center.

    Article VIII, section 5.  The credit of the state shall not, in any manner be given or loaned to, or in aid of, any individual, association, company or corporation.

This section does not apply to a law enacted before January 1, 1998, that authorizes a public stadium authority to establish a stadium and exhibition center.

    Article VIII, section 7.  No county, city, town or other municipal corporation shall hereafter give any money, or property, or loan its money, or credit to or in aid of any individual, association, company or corporation, except for the necessary support of the poor and infirm, or become directly or indirectly the owner of any stock in or bonds of any association, company or corporation.

This section does not apply to a law enacted before January 1, 1998, that authorizes a public stadium authority to establish a stadium and exhibition center.

    Article XI, section 9.  No county, nor the inhabitants thereof, nor the property therein, shall be released or discharged from its or their proportionate share of taxes to be levied for state purposes, nor shall commutation for such taxes be authorized in any form whatever.

This section does not apply to a law enacted before January 1, 1998, that authorizes a public stadium authority to establish a stadium and exhibition center.

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this amendment is a single amendment within the meaning of Article XXIII, section 1 of the state Constitution.

    The legislature finds that the changes contained in this amendment constitute a single integrated plan for authorizing a public stadium authority to establish a stadium and exhibition center.  If this amendment is held to be separate amendments, this joint resolution is void in its entirety and is of no further force and effect.

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause notice of this constitutional amendment to be published at least four times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every legal newspaper in the state.

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