SSB 6704 -
By Senator Benton
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"Sec. 1 RCW 42.30.080 and 2005 c 273 s 1 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) A special meeting may be called at any time by the presiding
officer of the governing body of a public agency or by a majority of
the members of the governing body by delivering written notice
personally, by mail, by fax, or by electronic mail to each member of
the governing body((; and)). Written notice shall be deemed waived in
the following circumstances:
(a) A member submits a written waiver of notice with the clerk or
secretary of the governing body at or prior to the time the meeting
convenes. A written waiver may be given by telegram, fax, or
electronic mail; or
(b) A member is actually present at the time the meeting convenes.
(2) Notice of a special meeting called under subsection (1) of this
section shall be:
(a) Delivered to each local newspaper of general circulation and
((to each)) local radio or television station ((which)) that has on
file with the governing body a written request to be notified of such
special meeting or of all special meetings;
(b) Posted on the agency's web site, if any, and maintained more
often than weekly by agency staff. An agency shall be considered to
have complied with the requirement for posting a notice on its web site
if the agency made every possible effort to post the notice at least
twenty-four hours before the meeting and was unable to do so because of
circumstances beyond its control, and complied with all the remaining
requirements in this section. In an effort to show good faith, the
agency shall document their efforts to post the notice on their web
site and must document the reason for the failure to do so;
(c) Prominently displayed at the main entrance of the agency's
principal location and the meeting site if it is not held at the
agency's principal location; and
(d) Delivered to individuals who reside in a voting district for
which the governing body has fewer than one thousand registered voters
and who have a written request to be notified of special meetings on
file with the governing body. Individuals requesting to be notified of
special meetings may receive the notice by fax, electronic mail, or
telephonic message.
Such notice must be delivered ((personally, by mail, by fax, or by
electronic mail)) or posted, as applicable, at least twenty-four hours
before the time of such meeting as specified in the notice.
(3) The call and notices required under subsections (1) and (2) of
this section shall specify the time and place of the special meeting
and the business to be transacted. Final disposition shall not be
taken on any other matter at such meetings by the governing body.
((Such written notice may be dispensed with as to any member who at or
prior to the time the meeting convenes files with the clerk or
secretary of the governing body a written waiver of notice. Such
waiver may be given by telegram, by fax, or electronic mail. Such
written notice may also be dispensed with as to any member who is
actually present at the meeting at the time it convenes.))
(4) The notices provided in this section may be dispensed with in
the event a special meeting is called to deal with an emergency
involving injury or damage to persons or property or the likelihood of
such injury or damage, when time requirements of such notice would make
notice impractical and increase the likelihood of such injury or
damage."
SSB 6704 -
By Senator
On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "meetings;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "and amending RCW 42.30.080."
EFFECT: (1) Rearranges and rephrases the statute to make it more
reader friendly. Requires governing bodies to post notice of special
meetings on their web site, if they have one, and post notice at the
entrance of the agency's principal location and at the meeting site if
it is different.
(2) Excludes agencies who have volunteers update their web site.
Allows agencies that were unable to comply with the web site posting
due to circumstances beyond their control, as long as they comply with
the remaining requirements.