SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5747

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Background: Public hospital districts are local government entities that may be created to provide health care facilities and services. Voters must approve a local ballot proposition to create a public hospital district. Since 1945, when they were authorized in state law, more than 50 public hospital districts have been created in Washington. Many provide facilities and services in rural areas. To finance operations, districts may levy property taxes, issue bonds, and charge user fees.

Public hospital districts are governed by three, five, or seven-member boards of commissioners. All voters in the entire public hospital district elect commissioners representing commissioner districts and at-large commissioners.

Cities may provide for election of each member of the city council by voters in districts, rather than by voters in the entire city, and approximately 20 have done so. Similarly, counties that have adopted home rule charters may provide for election of each member of the county legislative body by voters in districts, rather than by voters in the entire county.

Summary of Bill: The board of commissioners of a public hospital district with a population over 285,000, as determined by Office of Financial Management estimates may, by resolution, establish commissioner districts and provide that each board member will be nominated in a primary and elected in a general election solely by voters in the member's commissioner district, rather than by voters in the entire public hospital district.

Terms of commissioners serving in office at the time that the resolution is adopted may not be reduced. Subsequently elected commissioners must be elected from the commissioner districts in which they reside. One commissioner must be elected from each commissioner district, and no commissioner may be elected from a commissioner district in which another commissioner resides.