BILL REQ. #:  S-0101.2 

Read first time 02/09/09.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to notice of special meetings; and amending RCW 42.30.080.

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

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 if:
     (a) A member submits a written waiver of notice with the clerk or secretary of the governing body at or before 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 has on file with the governing body a written request to be notified of such special meeting or of all special meetings;
     (b) 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;
     (c) 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 its efforts to post the notice on its web site and must document the reason for the failure to do so; and
     (d) Sent 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)) (3) Notice under subsection (2) of this section 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.
     (4) The call and notice 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.))
     (5) 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.