6675-S AMH THOM H4978.1

SSB 6675 - H AMD TO TTE COMM AMD (H-5021.1/00) 576 FAILED 3-2-00

By Representative Thomas

    On page 4, beginning on line 1 of the amendment, strike all material through "services." on line 23, and insert the following:

    "(2) A public utility district shall provide telecommunications facilities in the district only following approval of a majority of the voters in the district.

    (3) The process for a public utility district to receive authority to provide telecommunications facilities is as follows:

    (a) The commission of the public utility district shall pass a resolution stating the intent to provide telecommunications facilities in the district, and submit the resolution to the legislative authority of the county in which the district is located; and

    (b) The legislative authority, upon receipt of the resolution of the rural port district commission, shall submit a proposal to the voters of the district at the next general election regarding the question of providing telecommunications facilities in the district in substantially the following terms:

Shall Public Utility District No. . . . . of . . . . . . . . County be authorized to sell and provide telecommunications facilities within the boundaries of the district?

           Yes . . .

           No  . . .

    Within ten days after such an election, the election board of the county shall canvass the returns, and if at such an election a majority of voters voting on the proposition shall vote in favor of such authority, the district shall have the powers to provide telecommunications facilities."

    On page 8, beginning on line 14 of the amendment, strike all material through "services." on line 36, and insert the following:

    "(2) A rural port district shall provide telecommunications facilities in the district only following approval of a majority of the voters in the district.

    (3) The process for a rural port district to receive authority to provide telecommunications facilities is as follows:

    (a) The commission of the rural port district shall pass a resolution stating the intent to provide telecommunications facilities in the district, and submit the resolution to the legislative authority of the county in which the district is located; and

    (b) The legislative authority, upon receipt of the resolution of the rural port district commission, shall submit a proposal to the voters of the district at the next general election regarding the question of providing telecommunications facilities in the district in substantially the following terms:

Shall Port District No. . . . . of . . . . . . . . County be authorized to sell and provide telecommunications facilities within the boundaries of the district?

           Yes . . .

           No  . . .

    Within ten days after such an election, the election board of the county shall canvass the returns, and if at such an election a majority of voters voting on the proposition shall vote in favor of such authority, the district shall have the powers to provide telecommunications facilities."

EFFECT:  Requires public utility districts and rural port districts to receive voter approval prior to providing wholesale telecommunications services.

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