HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 2859

BYRepresentatives Todd, Ebersole, Padden and Wolfe

Making changes in county legislative authority.

House Committe on State Government

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  (8)

      Signed by Representatives Todd, Chair; Anderson, Vice Chair; McLean, Ranking Republican Member; R. Fisher, Hankins, Morris, O'Brien and Silver.

House Staff:Kenneth Hirst (786-7105)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 13, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Article XI, Section 4 of the state's Constitution requires the Legislature to provide for a uniform system of county government. It and Article XI, Section 16 also authorize the development and adoption of "Home-Rule" charters for counties and city-counties which may establish systems of government which are different than that established by the Legislature.

The Legislature has by statute directed that the legislative authority of the counties be three-member boards of commissioners. Under this organization of county government, each county is divided into three commissioner districts.  Except in certain island counties, commissioners are nominated at district-wide primaries; they are elected at county-wide elections.

The Legislature has by statute also classified the counties by their population.  The elective offices of the counties and certain other provisions applying to counties vary based on these classifications.

SUMMARY:

The board of commissioners of a noncharter county with a population of 300,000 or more may submit a ballot proposition to the voters of the county authorizing the board of commissioners to be increased to five members.  Such a ballot proposition may be placed before the voters of any noncharter county by a petition signed by at least 10 percent of the county voters voting at the last county general election.  At least 20 percent of the signatures on such a petition must come from each of the existing commissioner districts.

If the ballot proposition is approved by a majority of the voters at the general election, the board of commissioners is so expanded. The county must be divided into five commissioner districts.  No two members of the existing board may reside in any one district. Each commissioner must reside in and must be nominated from a separate commissioner district.  Each must be elected by the voters of the entire county.

Procedures are established for staggering the terms of the commissioners and for filling vacancies.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 25, 1990.

Effective Date:The bill takes effect on January 1, 1993.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representatives Charles Wolfe and Mike Padden.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (1) The Spokane River divides the commissioner districts in Spokane County in such a manner that the voting power of the residents of the Spokane Valley is virtually eliminated.  The bill will permit more equitable representation.  (2) Spokane is the largest county in the state with three commissioners.  The bill will permit more local input on local issues.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.