Title: An act relating to allowing special meetings to be called through electronic mail notice.

Brief Description: Allowing fax and electronic mail notice of special meetings.

Sponsors: Representatives Clibborn, Pettigrew, Shabro, Nixon, B. Sullivan, Moeller, Jarrett, Hunter, Hudgins, Upthegrove, Tom, Morrell, P. Sullivan, Wallace and Kilmer.

Brief History: Passed House: 2/25/05, 95-0.

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 3/17/05, 3/21/05 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kastama, Chair; Berkey, Vice Chair; Roach, Ranking Minority Member; Fairley, Haugen, Kline, Mulliken and Pridemore.

Staff: Cindy Fazio (786-7405)

Background: The Open Public Meetings Act directs the meeting process followed by public agencies. Public agencies must provide notice of special meetings to its governing body, and to any media organization that has provided written notice to the agency of their wish to be notified of special meetings, by personal delivery or mail, at least twenty-four hours before the meeting.

Summary of Bill: Special meeting notice is written notice personally delivered or delivered by mail, fax, or electronic mail.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: This language is a simple change to incorporate electronic technology in the notice requirements. The language was requested by the cities and will make it easier and more efficient to get meeting notices to the required parties. It is particularly helpful if meeting dates and times change, and particularly helpful to people who travel longer distances to the meetings. Using the electronic form is not mandatory; if people do not use fax or email, we will deliver the notices to them. It provides us with more flexibility.

Testimony Against: None.

Other: We are neutral on this legislation.

Who Testified: PRO: Representative Clibborn, prime sponsor, Victoria Lincoln, Association of Washington Cities, Charlotte Taylor, City of Lacey. OTHER: Rowland Thompson, Allied Daily Newspapers of Washington.