S-3821

AN ACT Relating to city charter elections; and amending RCW 35.22.100, 35.22.190, 35A.08.110, and 35A.09.070.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 35.22.100 and 1965 c 7 s 35.22.100 are each amended to read as follows:

If a majority of the votes cast at the election upon the adoption of the proposed charter favor it, certificates of election shall be issued to each officer elected at that election. Within ten days after the issuance of the certificates of election, the newly elected officers shall qualify as provided in the charter, and on the tenth day thereafter at twelve o'clock noon of that day, the officers so elected and qualified shall enter upon the duties of the offices to which they were elected and at such time the charter shall be authenticated, recorded, attested and go into effect. When so authenticated, recorded and attested, the charter shall become the organic law of the city and supersede any existing charter and amendments thereto and all special laws inconsistent therewith. If the vote in favor of adopting a charter receives forty percent or less of the total vote on the question of charter adoption, no new election on the question of charter adoption may be held for a period of two years from the date of the election in which the charter proposal failed.

Sec. 2. RCW 35.22.190 and 1965 c 7 s 35.22.190 are each amended to read as follows:

If a majority of the voters voting upon the adoption of the proposed new, altered or revised charter favor it, it shall become the charter of the city and the organic law thereof, superseding any existing charter. All bodies or offices abolished or dispensed with by the new, altered or revised charter, together with the emoluments thereof shall immediately cease to exist, and any new offices created shall be filled by appointment of the mayor until the next general election subject to such approval by the city council as may be required by the new, altered or revised charter. If the vote in favor of adopting, altering, or revising a charter receives forty percent or less of the total vote on the question of charter adoption, alteration, or revision, no new election on the question of charter adoption, alteration, or revision may be held for a period of two years from the date of the election in which the charter proposal failed.

Sec. 3. RCW 35A.08.110 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.08.110 are each amended to read as follows:

If a majority of the votes cast at the election upon the adoption of the proposed charter favor it, certificates of election shall be issued to each officer elected at that election. Within ten days after the issuance of the certificates of election, the newly elected officers shall qualify as provided in the charter, and on the tenth day thereafter at twelve o'clock noon of that day or on the next business day if the tenth day is a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, the officers so elected and qualified shall enter upon the duties of the offices to which they were elected and at such time the charter shall be authenticated, recorded, attested and go into effect, and the city shall thereafter be classified as a charter code city. When so authenticated, recorded, and attested, the charter shall become the organic law of the city and supersede any existing charter and amendments thereto and all special laws inconsistent therewith. If the vote in favor of adopting a charter receives forty percent or less of the total vote on the question of charter adoption, no new election on the question of charter adoption may be held for a period of two years from the date of the election in which the charter proposal failed.

Sec. 4. RCW 35A.09.070 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.09.070 are each amended to read as follows:

If a majority of the voters voting upon the adoption of the proposed new, altered, or revised charter favor it, it shall become the charter of the charter code city and the organic law thereof, superseding any existing charter; but if any offices are abolished or dispensed with by the new, altered, or revised charter, and any new offices created thereby, such charter shall not go into effect until the election and qualification of such new officers at the next general municipal election if one is to be held within one hundred and eighty days, or at a special election to be held for that purpose not less than ninety days, nor more than one hundred and eighty days after approval of such charter by the voters. If the vote in favor of adopting, altering, or revising a charter receives forty percent or less of the total vote on the question of charter adoption, alteration, or revision, no new election on the question of charter adoption, alteration, or revision may be held for a period of two years from the date of the election in which the charter proposal failed.