Z-188                 _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1571

                        _______________________________________________

                                                                            C 040 L 90

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives R. Fisher, McLean and Sayan; by request of Secretary of State

Read first time 1/30/89 and referred to Committee on State Government.

AN ACT Relating to port district vacancies; and amending RCW 53.12.150.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 8, chapter 17, Laws of 1959 as last amended by section 1, chapter 87, Laws of 1985 and RCW 53.12.150 are each amended to read as follows:

          A vacancy in the office of port commissioner created by death, resignation, or otherwise, shall be filled as follows:

          (1) If there are simultaneously such number of vacancies that less than a majority of the full number of commissioners fixed by law remain in office, the legislative authority of the county shall within thirty days of such vacancies appoint the number of commissioners necessary to provide a majority.  The commissioners thus appointed, together with any remaining commissioners, shall then, within sixty days of their appointment, meet and appoint the number of commissioners needed to complete the board of commissioners.  However, if they fail to fill the remaining vacancies within this sixty-day period, the legislative authority of the county shall make the necessary appointments.

          (2) If a majority of the full number of commissioners fixed by law remains on the board, the remaining commissioners shall fill any vacancies.    However, if they fail to fill any vacancy within sixty days of its occurrence, the legislative authority of the county shall make the necessary appointment.

          (3) A person appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of port commissioner shall serve until a successor is elected and qualified ((at the next district general election occurring sixty or more days after the vacancy has occurred)) under chapter 29.21 RCW.  The person who is elected shall take office immediately after he or she is qualified and shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term.  ((However, if at this next district general election an election would have otherwise been held to elect a person to the position in which a vacancy has occurred, a separate election shall not be held to elect a person to fill the vacancy during the remainder of the unexpired term.  The person who is elected at this election for this position shall take office immediately upon being qualified and shall serve for both the remainder of the unexpired term in addition to the full term to which he or she is elected.))

                                                                                                                       Passed the House January 19, 1990.

                                                                                                                                         Speaker of the House.

                                                                                                                      Passed the Senate February 26, 1990.

                                                                                                                                       President of the Senate.