BILL REQ. #:  S-0684.2 

Read first time 02/05/09.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education.

     AN ACT Relating to implementing a proposed constitutional amendment to change school levy election timing provisions; amending RCW 84.52.053; and providing a contingent effective date.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 84.52.053 and 2007 c 129 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The limitations imposed by RCW 84.52.050 through 84.52.056, and 84.52.043 shall not prevent the levy of taxes by school districts, when authorized so to do by the voters of such school district in the manner and for the purposes and number of years allowable under Article VII, section 2(a) of the Constitution of this state. Elections for such taxes shall be held ((in the year in which the)) not more than eighteen months prior to the date on which the proposed levy is to be made or, in the case of propositions authorizing two-year through four-year levies for maintenance and operation support of a school district, authorizing two-year levies for transportation vehicle funds established in RCW 28A.160.130, or authorizing two-year through six-year levies to support the construction, modernization, or remodeling of school facilities, which includes the purposes of RCW 28A.320.330(2)(f), ((in the year in which the)) not more than eighteen months prior to the date on which the proposed first annual levy is to be made.
     (2) Once additional tax levies have been authorized for maintenance and operation support of a school district for a two-year through four-year period as provided under subsection (1) of this section, no further additional tax levies for maintenance and operation support of the district for that period may be authorized. For the purpose of applying the limitation of this subsection, a two-year through six-year levy to support the construction, modernization, or remodeling of school facilities shall not be deemed to be a tax levy for maintenance and operation support of a school district.
     (3) A special election may be called and the time therefor fixed by the board of school directors, by giving notice thereof by publication in the manner provided by law for giving notices of general elections, at which special election the proposition authorizing such excess levy shall be submitted in such form as to enable the voters favoring the proposition to vote "yes" and those opposed thereto to vote "no".

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   This act takes effect January 1, 2010, if the proposed amendment to Article VII, section 2 of the state Constitution changing school levy timing provisions (S-0378/09) is validly submitted to and is approved and ratified by the voters at the next general election. If the proposed amendment is not approved and ratified, this act is void in its entirety.