BILL REQ. #:  H-0662.3 

Read first time 01/19/11.   Referred to Committee on Local Government.

     AN ACT Relating to allowing the use of federal census data to determine the resident population of annexed territory; and amending RCW 35.13.260 and 35A.14.700.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 35.13.260 and 1979 c 151 s 25 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Whenever any territory is annexed to a city or town, a certificate as hereinafter provided shall be submitted in triplicate to the office of financial management, hereinafter in this section referred to as "the office", within thirty days of the effective date of annexation specified in the relevant ordinance. After approval of the certificate, the office shall retain the original copy in its files, and transmit the second copy to the department of transportation and return the third copy to the city or town. Such certificates shall be in such form and contain such information as shall be prescribed by the office. A copy of the complete ordinance containing a legal description and a map showing specifically the boundaries of the annexed territory shall be attached to each of the three copies of the certificate. The certificate shall be signed by the mayor and attested by the city clerk. Upon request, the office shall furnish certification forms to any city or town.
     (2)(a) The resident population of the annexed territory shall be determined by, or under the direction of, the mayor of the city or town. ((Such population determination shall consist of an actual enumeration of the population which shall be made in accordance with practices and policies, and subject to the approval of, the office.))
     (b) If the annexed territory consists entirely of one or more partial federal census blocks, or if federal decennial census data has not been released within eighteen months immediately prior to the date of annexation, such population determination shall consist of an actual enumeration of the population.
     (c) If the annexed territory includes or consists of one or more complete federal census blocks, and if federal decennial census data has been released within eighteen months immediately prior to the date of annexation, the population determination may consist of:
     (i) Relevant federal decennial census data pertaining to the complete block or blocks, as such data has been updated by the most recent official population estimate released by the office pursuant to RCW 43.62.030; and
     (ii) An actual enumeration of any population located within the annexed territory but outside the complete federal census block or blocks.
     However, in any circumstance, the city or town may choose to have the population determination of the entire annexed territory consist of an actual enumeration.
     (d) Whenever an actual enumeration is used, it shall be made in accordance with the practices and policies, and subject to the approval of, the office.
     (e) The city or town shall be responsible for the full cost of the population determination.
     (3) The population shall be determined as of the effective date of annexation as specified in the relevant ordinance.
     Until an annexation certificate is filed and approved as provided herein, such annexed territory shall not be considered by the office in determining the population of such city or town.
     (4) Upon approval of the annexation certificate, the office shall forward to each state official or department responsible for making allocations or payments to cities or towns, a revised certificate reflecting the increase in population due to such annexation. Upon and after the date of the commencement of the next quarterly period, the population determination indicated in such revised certificate shall be used as the basis for the allocation and payment of state funds to such city or town.
     For the purposes of this section, each quarterly period shall commence on the first day of the months of January, April, July, and October. Whenever a revised certificate is forwarded by the office thirty days or less prior to the commencement of the next quarterly period, the population of the annexed territory shall not be considered until the commencement of the following quarterly period.

Sec. 2   RCW 35A.14.700 and 1979 ex.s. c 18 s 28 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Whenever any territory is annexed to a code city, a certificate as hereinafter provided shall be submitted in triplicate to the office of financial management within thirty days of the effective date of annexation specified in the relevant ordinance. After approval of the certificate, the office of financial management shall retain the original copy in its files, and transmit the second copy to the department of transportation and return the third copy to the code city. Such certificates shall be in such form and contain such information as shall be prescribed by the office of financial management. A copy of the complete ordinance containing a legal description and a map showing specifically the boundaries of the annexed territory shall be attached to each of the three copies of the certificate. The certificate shall be signed by the mayor and attested by the city clerk. Upon request, the office of financial management shall furnish certification forms to any code city.
     (2)(a) The resident population of the annexed territory shall be determined by, or under the direction of, the mayor of the code city.      (b) If the annexed territory consists entirely of one or more partial federal census blocks, or if federal decennial census data has not been released within eighteen months immediately prior to the date of annexation, such population determination shall consist of an actual enumeration of the population.
     (c) If the annexed territory includes or consists of one or more complete federal census blocks, and if federal decennial census data has been released within eighteen months immediately prior to the date of annexation, the population determination may consist of:
     (i) Relevant federal decennial census data pertaining to the complete block or blocks, as such data has been updated by the most recent official population estimate released by the office pursuant to RCW 43.62.030; and
     (ii) An actual enumeration of any population located within the annexed territory but outside the complete federal census block or blocks.
     However, in any circumstance, the code city may choose to have the population determination of the entire annexed territory consist of an actual enumeration.
     (d) Whenever an actual enumeration is used, it shall be made in accordance with the practices and policies, and subject to the approval of, the office of financial management.
     (e) The code city shall be responsible for the full cost of the population determination.
     (3) Upon approval of the annexation certificate, the office of financial management shall forward to each state official or department responsible for making allocations or payments to cities or towns, a revised certificate reflecting the increase in population due to such annexation. Upon and after the date of the commencement of the next quarterly period, the population determination indicated in such revised certificate shall be used as the basis for the allocation and payment of state funds to such city or town.
     For the purposes of this section, each quarterly period shall commence on the first day of the months of January, April, July, and October. Whenever a revised certificate is forwarded by the office of financial management thirty days or less prior to the commencement of the next quarterly period, the population of the annexed territory shall not be considered until the commencement of the following quarterly period.
     ((The resident population of the annexed territory shall be determined by, or under the direction of, the mayor of the code city. Such population determination shall consist of an actual enumeration of the population which shall be made in accordance with practices and policies, and subject to the approval of the office of financial management. The population shall be determined as of the effective date of annexation as specified in the relevant ordinance.))
     (4) Until an annexation certificate is filed and approved as provided herein, such annexed territory shall not be considered by the office of financial management in determining the population of such code city.