BILL REQ. #:  S-0058.1 

Read first time 02/25/09.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to posting information on public agencies' web sites; adding a new section to chapter 42.30 RCW; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 42.30 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The agenda of all regular meetings of the governing body of every public agency, special purpose district, and any municipality that owns or maintains a web site shall be posted within seventy-two hours before a meeting. The agenda of all special or emergency meetings shall be posted within twenty-four hours before a meeting. The posting shall indicate if the agendas are in draft form.
     (2) The text of any ordinance, rule, or regulation that is under consideration at the meeting shall be included on the web site at the same time the agenda is posted.
     (3) The minutes of all regular and special meetings of the governing body of every public agency, special purpose district, and any municipality that owns or maintains a web site shall be posted within fifteen business days after a meeting. The posting shall indicate if the minutes are in draft form or adopted. All postings under this section shall remain on the web site for one calendar year.
     (4) Every public agency, special purpose district, and any municipality that owns or maintains a public internet web site shall at all times have posted to it a roster of the names of all members of its governing body, identifying the positions, and constituency where applicable, of all members. The web site shall at all times provide both the start date and end date of the elective or appointed terms of all members.
     (5) Subsections (1) through (3) of this section do not apply to the following public agencies, municipalities, or their respective subagencies: (a) Counties with a population of less than twenty thousand; (b) cities or towns with a population of less than eight thousand; or (c) school districts or special purpose districts providing services to a population of less than one thousand.
     (6) This section shall not be construed to affect existing public agency notice requirements in RCW 42.30.060 or 42.30.075.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2009.