SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1291

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Government Operations & Elections, March 16, 2009

Title: An act relating to library district annexations.

Brief Description: Changing library district annexation provisions.

Sponsors: House Committee on Local Government & Housing (originally sponsored by Representatives Maxwell, Simpson, Green, Rodne, Clibborn, Hasegawa, Ormsby, Orwall, Liias, Hudgins, Johnson, Sullivan and Hunter).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/23/09, 92-0.

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 3/16/09 [DP].

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Fairley, Chair; Oemig, Vice Chair; Roach, Ranking Minority Member; McDermott and Pridemore.

Staff: Edward Redmond (786-7471)

Background: The establishment, management, and operation of various public library districts are authorized by statutory law. The law provides that cities, towns, and counties may create public libraries. Statutory law also authorizes the establishment of special library districts including rural county library districts, intercounty rural library districts, and island library districts. The service areas of these special districts are as follows: (1) a rural county library district provides library services to all areas within a county not included within incorporated cities and towns; (2) an intercounty rural library district is organized to provide library service for all areas outside of incorporated cities and towns within two or more counties; and (3) an island library district is organized to provide library service for all areas outside of incorporated cities and towns on a single island only.

A city or town may join a special library district provided that its population does not exceed 100,000 at the time of annexation. The city or town seeking to annex must adopt an ordinance stating its intent.

Summary of Bill: The maximum population that a city or town may have at the time of annexation is increased. A city or town with a maximum population of 300,000 may annex to a special library district.

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.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Library annexations are already allowed under current statutes when the jurisdiction's population does not exceed 100,000. In Renton there are three large annexation areas that would take the population over the 100,000 threshold. Without this bill the cities would experience growth but would be prohibited from considering a library annexation that would take them into the King County Library System. This bill raises the population threshold to 300,000. It gives local governments the consistency and tools to use their funds wisely and to continue providing quality service to their communities. Furthermore, other larger cities across the state have expressed interest in having the option of annexing to a special library district. The King County Library System and Washington Library System are in full support of this bill.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Suzanne Dale Estey, city of Renton; Bill Ptacek, King County Library System.