FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 2935

                                  C 259 L 90

BYHouse Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Horn, Haugen, Kirby, Ferguson, D. Sommers, Wood, Rayburn, Morris, Moyer, Wolfe, Brumsickle, Bowman, Walker, Nealey and Raiter)

Modifying the provisions for local government elections.

House Committe on Local Government

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

The general election laws provide very specific times when elections may be held.  These laws also provide that the county auditor must be given at least 45 days notice before an election may be held.  The election laws pertaining to specific units of local government, however, often contain provisions that conflict with the general election laws.  In addition, the signature requirements for a petition requesting certain action, such as an annexation or the consolidation of a district, differ widely among units of local government.

The statutes pertaining to code cities contain several references to election duties being performed by the city clerk.  The county auditor is responsible for these duties.  Statutes often refer to electors or qualified voters instead of registered voters.

SUMMARY:

Local government statutes that call for special or general elections at specific times are changed to conform to requirements contained in the general election statutes.

The signature requirements for petitions requesting local government action are standardized.  A petition must be signed by registered voters in the district in a number equal to at least 10 percent of the votes cast in the last general municipal election.

References in the code city statutes to the city clerk are changed to the county auditor. References to electors and qualified voters are changed to registered voters.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 95   0

      Senate    49     0

EFFECTIVE:June 7, 1990