AN ACT Relating to special districts; amending RCW 85.38.010, 85.05.015, 86.09.377, 85.38.100, 85.24.250, 85.38.040, 85.38.050, 85.38.060, 85.38.070, 85.38.090, 85.38.110, 85.38.120, and 85.38.130; adding new sections to chapter 85.38 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 85.08 RCW; recodifying RCW 85.05.015; and repealing RCW 85.24.210.

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

Sec. 1. Section 2, chapter 396, Laws of 1985 as amended by section 41, chapter 278, Laws of 1986 and RCW 85.38.010 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter:

(1) "Governing body" means the board of commissioners, board of supervisors, or board of directors of a special district.

(2) "Owner of land" means the record owner of at least a majority ownership interest in a separate and legally created lot or parcel of land, as determined by the records of the county auditor, except that if the lot or parcel has been sold under a real estate contract, the vendee or grantee shall be deemed to be the owner of such land for purposes of authorizing voting rights. It is assumed, unless shown otherwise, that the name appearing as the owner of property on the property tax rolls is the current owner.

(3) "Qualified voter of a special district" means a person who is either: (a) A natural person who is a voter under general state election laws, registered to vote in the state of Washington for a period of not less than sixty days before the election, and the owner of land located in the special district for a period of not less than sixty days before the election; (b) a corporation or partnership that has owned land located in the special district for a period of not less than sixty days before the election; or (c) the state, its agencies or political subdivisions that own land in the special district or lands proposed to be annexed into the special district except that the state, its agencies and political subdivisions shall not be eligible to vote to elect a member of the governing board of a special district. ((If land is owned as community property, both spouses may vote if otherwise qualified. If other multiple undivided interests exist in a lot or parcel, and no person owns a majority undivided interest, the owners of undivided interests at least equal to a majority interest may designate in writing which owner is eligible to vote. A corporation, partnership or governmental entity shall designate a natural person to exercise its voting powers. Except as provided in RCW 85.05.015 and 86.09.377, no owner of land may cast more than one vote, or have more than one vote cast for it, in a special district election.))

(4) "Special district" means: (a) A diking district; (b) a drainage district; (c) a diking, drainage, and/or sewerage improvement district; (d) an intercounty diking and drainage district; (e) a consolidated diking district, drainage district, diking improvement district, and/or drainage improvement district; or (f) a flood control district.

(5) "Special district general election" means the election of a special district regularly held on the ((~~second~~)) first Tuesday ((~~of December~~)) after the first Monday in February in each ((~~odd-numbered~~)) even-numbered year at which a member of the special district governing body is regularly elected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 85.38 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The owner of land located in a special district who is a qualified voter of the special district shall receive two votes at any election.

(2) If multiple undivided interests, other than community property interests, exist in a lot or parcel and no person owns a majority undivided interest, the owners of undivided interests at least equal to a majority interest may designate in writing:

(a) Which owner is eligible to vote and may cast two votes; or

(b) Which two owners are eligible to vote and may cast one vote apiece.

(3) If land is owned as community property, each spouse shall be entitled to one vote if both spouses otherwise qualify to vote, unless one spouse designates in writing that the other spouse may cast both votes.

(4) A corporation, partnership, or governmental entity shall designate:

(a) A natural person to cast its two votes; or

(b) Two natural persons to each cast one of its votes.

(5) Except as provided in RCW 85.05.015 (as recodified by this act) and 86.09.377, no owner of land may cast more than two votes or have more than two votes cast for him or her in a special district election.

Sec. 3. Section 21, chapter 396, Laws of 1985 and RCW 85.05.015 are each amended to read as follows:

Each qualified voter of a diking improvement or drainage improvement district who owns more than ten acres of land within the district shall be entitled to ((~~one~~)) two additional votes for each ten acres or major fraction thereof located within the district, up to a maximum total of ((~~twenty~~)) forty votes for any voter, or in the case of community property, a maximum total of ((~~ten~~)) twenty votes per member of the marital community: PROVIDED, That this additional voting provision shall only apply in districts that were not in operation and did not have improvements as of May 14, 1925.

Sec. 4. Section 22, chapter 396, Laws of 1985 and RCW 86.09.377 are each amended to read as follows:

Each qualified voter of a flood control district who owns more than ten acres of land within the district shall be entitled to ((~~one~~)) two additional votes for each ten acres or major fraction thereof located within the district, up to a maximum total of ((~~twenty~~)) forty votes for any voter, or in the case of community property, a maximum total of ((~~ten~~)) twenty votes per member of the marital community.

Sec. 5. Section 11, chapter 396, Laws of 1985 and RCW 85.38.100 are each amended to read as follows:

General elections shall be held in each special district on the ((~~second~~)) first Tuesday ((~~in December~~)) after the first Monday in February in each ((~~odd-numbered~~)) even-numbered year. The auditor of the county within which a special district, or the largest portion of a special district, is located may provide for special elections whenever necessary.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 85.38 RCW to read as follows:

No election shall be held to elect a member of a special district governing body, or to fill the remainder of an unexpired term which arose from a vacancy on the governing body, if no one or only one person files for the position.

If only one person files for the position, he or she shall be considered to have been elected to the position at the election that otherwise would have taken place for such position.

If no one files for the position and the upcoming election is one at which someone would have been elected to fill the expired term, the position shall be treated as vacant at the expiration of the term.

If no one files for the position and the upcoming election is one at which someone would have been elected to fill the remaining term of office, the person appointed to fill the vacancy shall be considered to have been elected to the position at the election and shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Sec. 7. Section 19, chapter 225, Laws of 1909 as amended by section 119, chapter 195, Laws of 1973 1st ex. sess. and RCW 85.24.250 are each amended to read as follows:

Whenever it shall appear to the ((~~city~~)) council of any incorporated city or town not included or not wholly included within the limits of any diking or drainage district established hereunder, which incorporated city or town may be within a county in which a portion of such district is located that the construction and maintenance of such diking and drainage system will be beneficial to the health of the inhabitants of said incorporated city or town and to the general welfare of the said city or town, then the city or town council ((~~of said city~~)) is hereby empowered and authorized to appropriate such amount of money out of the general funds of the city or town as may to the ((~~city~~)) council seem proper and just to such diking and drainage system, or the ((~~city~~)) council may for such purpose ((~~levy an~~)) impose assessments upon all the property in said city ((~~subject to taxation by said city, which shall not exceed twelve and one-half cents per thousand dollars of assessed value of property~~)) or town that benefits from facilities and activities of the diking or drainage district, and give the assessments to the diking or drainage district.

Sec. 8. Section 5, chapter 396, Laws of 1985 and RCW 85.38.040 are each amended to read as follows

The county legislative authority shall schedule a public hearing on the proposed special district if the county engineer's report indicates that the proposed projects are feasible. If the engineers of each of the counties within which a proposed special district is located indicate that the proposed projects are feasible, the county legislative authorities shall schedule a joint public hearing on the proposed special district. The county legislative authority may, on its own initiative, schedule a public hearing on the proposed special district if the county engineer's report indicates that the proposed projects are not feasible. The county legislative authorities of counties within which a proposed special district is located may, on their own initiative, schedule a joint public hearing on the proposed special district if one or more of the county engineers' reports indicate that the proposed projects are not feasible.

Notice of the public hearing shall be published ((~~and posted~~)) as provided in RCW 85.38.120(1) for notices of elections. Additional notice of the public hearing shall be published in the newspaper in general circulation within the proposed special district, which notice shall be purchased in the manner of a general advertisement, not to be included with legal advertisements or with classified advertisements. This additional notice shall be published at least twice, not more than twenty nor less than three days before public hearing. Additional notice shall be made as required in RCW 79.44.040.

The notice must contain the following: (1) The date, time, and place of the public hearing; (2) a statement that a particular special district is proposed to be created; (3) a general description of the proposed projects to be completed by the special district; (4) a general description of the proposed special district boundaries; and (5) a statement that all affected persons may appear and present their comments in favor of or against the creation of the proposed special district.

Sec. 9. Section 6, chapter 396, Laws of 1985 and RCW 85.38.050 are each amended to read as follows:

The county legislative authority or authorities shall conduct the public hearing at the date, time, and place indicated in the notice. Public hearings may be continued to other dates, times, and places specified by the county legislative authority or authorities before the adjournment of the public hearing. Each county legislative authority may alter those portions of boundaries of the proposed special district that are located within the county, but if territory is added that was not described in the original proposed boundaries, an additional hearing on the proposal shall be held with notice being ((~~posted and~~)) published as provided in RCW 85.38.040.

After receiving the public testimony, the county legislative authority may cause an election to be held to authorize the creation of a special district if it finds:

(1) That creation of the special district will be conducive to the public health, convenience and welfare;

(2) That the creation of the special district will be of special benefit to a majority of the lands included within the special district; and

(3) That the proposed improvements are feasible and economical, and that the benefits of these improvements exceed costs for the improvements.

If the proposed special district is located within two or more counties, the county legislative authorities may cause an election to be held to authorize the creation of the special district upon making the findings set forth in subsections (1) through (3) of this section.

The county legislative authority or authorities may also choose not to allow such an election to be held by either failing to act or finding that one or more of these factors are not met.

Sec. 10. Section 7, chapter 396, Laws of 1985 and RCW 85.38.060 are each amended to read as follows:

The county legislative authority or authorities shall cause an election on the question of creating the special district to be held if findings as provided in RCW 85.38.050 are made. The county legislative authority or authorities shall designate a time and date for such election, which shall be one of the special election dates provided for in RCW 29.13.020, together with the site or sites at which votes may be cast. The persons allowed to vote on the creation of a special district shall be those persons who, if the special district were created, would be qualified voters of the special district as described in RCW 85.38.010. The county auditor or auditors of the counties within which the proposed special district is located shall conduct the election and prepare a list of presumed eligible voters.

Notices for the election shall be published ((~~and posted~~)) as provided in RCW 85.38.040. The special district shall be created if the proposition to create the special district is approved by a simple majority vote of the voters voting on the proposition and the special district may assume operations whenever the initial members of the governing body are appointed as provided in RCW 85.38.070.

Any special district created after July 28, 1985, may only have special assessments measured and imposed, and budgets adopted, as provided in RCW 85.38.140 through 85.38.170.

If the special district is created, the county or counties may charge the special district for the costs incurred by the county engineer or engineers pursuant to RCW 85.38.030 and the costs of the auditor or auditors related to the election to authorize the creation of the special district pursuant to this section. Such county actions shall be deemed to be special benefits of the property located within the special district that are paid through the imposition of special assessments.

Sec. 11. Section 8, chapter 396, Laws of 1985 as last amended by section 2, chapter 298, Laws of 1987 and RCW 85.38.070 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Except as provided in RCW 85.38.090, each special district shall be governed by a three-member governing body. The term of office for each member of a special district governing body shall be six years and until his or her successor is elected and qualified. One member of the governing body shall be elected at the time of special district general elections in each ((~~odd-numbered~~)) even-numbered year for a term of six years beginning as ((~~provided in RCW 29.04.170~~)) soon as the election returns have been certified for assumption of office by elected officials of cities.

(2) The terms of office of members of the governing bodies of special districts, who are holding office on July 28, 1985, shall be altered to provide staggered six-year terms as provided in this subsection. The member who on July 28, 1985, has the longest term remaining shall have his or her term altered so that the position will be filled at the ((~~December, 1991,~~)) February 1992, special district general election; the member with the second longest term remaining shall have his or her term altered so that the position will be filled at the December, 1989, special district general election; and the member with the third longest term of office shall have his or her term altered so that the position will be filled at the December, 1987, special district general election.

(3) The initial members of the governing body of a newly created special district shall be appointed by the legislative authority of the county within which the special district, or the largest portion of the special district, is located. These initial governing body members shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified at the next special district general election held at least ninety days after the special district is established. At that election the first elected members of the governing body shall be elected. No primary elections may be held. Any voter of a special district may become a candidate for such a position by filing written notice of this intention with the ((~~governing body of the special district~~)) county auditor at least thirty, but not more than sixty, days before a special district general election. The county auditor in consultation with the special district shall establish the filing period. The names of all candidates for such positions shall be listed alphabetically. At this first election, the candidate receiving the greatest number of votes shall have a six-year term, the candidate receiving the second greatest number of votes shall have a four-year term, and the candidate receiving the third greatest number of votes shall have a two-year term of office. The initially elected members of a governing body shall take office immediately when qualified as defined in RCW 29.01.135. Thereafter the candidate receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected for a six-year term of office. Members of a governing body shall hold their office until their successors are elected and qualified, and assume office as ((~~provided in RCW 29.04.170~~)) soon as the election returns have been certified.

(4) The requirements for the filing period and method for filing declarations of candidacy for the governing body of the district and the arrangement of candidate names on the ballot for all special district elections shall be the same as the requirements for the initial election in the district.

(5) Whenever a vacancy occurs in the governing body of a special district, the legislative authority of the county within which the special district, or the largest portion of the special district, is located, shall appoint a district voter to serve until a person is elected, at the next special district election occurring sixty or more days after the vacancy has occurred, to serve the remainder of the unexpired term. The person so elected shall take office immediately when qualified as defined in RCW 29.01.135.

If an election for the position which became vacant would otherwise have been held at this special district election, only one election shall be held and the person elected to fill the succeeding term for that position shall take office immediately when qualified as defined in RCW 29.01.135 and shall serve both the remainder of the unexpired term and the succeeding term. A vacancy occurs upon the death, resignation, or incapacity of a governing body member or whenever the governing body member ceases being a qualified voter of the special district.

((~~(5)~~)) (6) An elected or appointed member of a special district governing body must be a qualified voter of the special district: PROVIDED, That the state, its agencies and political subdivisions, or their designees under RCW 85.38.010(3) shall not be eligible for election or appointment.

Sec. 12. Section 10, chapter 396, Laws of 1985 and RCW 85.38.090 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Whenever the governing body of a special district has more than three members, the governing body shall be reduced to three members as of January 1, 1986, by eliminating the positions of those district governing body members with the shortest remaining terms of office. The remaining three governing body members shall have staggered terms with the one having the shortest remaining term having his or her position filled at the 1987 special district general election, the one with the next shortest remaining term having his or her position filled at the 1989 special district general election, and the one with the longest remaining term having his or her position filled at the ((~~1991~~)) 1992 special district general election. If any of these remaining three governing body members have identical remaining terms of office, the newly calculated remaining terms of these persons shall be determined by lot with the county auditor who assists the special district in its elections managing such lot procedure. The newly established terms shall be recorded by the county auditor.

(2) However, whenever five or more special districts have consolidated under chapter 85.36 RCW and the consolidated district has five members in its governing body on July 28, 1985, the consolidated district may adopt a resolution retaining a five-member governing body. At any time thereafter, such a district may adopt a resolution and reduce the size of the governing body to three members with the reduction occurring as provided in subsection (1) of this section, but the years of the effective dates shall be extended so that the reduction occurs at the next January 1st occurring after the date of the adoption of the resolution. Whenever a special district is so governed by a five-member governing body, two members shall be elected at each of two consecutive special district general elections, and one member shall be elected at the following special district general election, each to serve a six-year staggered term.

Sec. 13. Section 12, chapter 396, Laws of 1985 and RCW 85.38.110 are each amended to read as follows:

A list of presumed eligible voters shall be prepared and maintained by each special district. The list shall include the assessor's tax number for each lot or parcel in the district, the name or the names of the owners of such lots and parcels, the extent of the ownership interest of such persons, and if such persons are natural persons, whether they are known to be registered voters in the state of Washington. Whenever such a list is prepared, the district shall attempt to notify each owner of the requirements necessary to establish voting authority to vote. Whenever lots or parcels in the district are sold, the district shall attempt to notify the purchasers of the requirements necessary to establish voting authority. Each special district shall provide a copy of this list, and any revised list, to the auditor of the county within which all or the largest portion of the special district is located. The special district must compile the list of eligible voters and provide it to the county auditor by the first day of November preceding the special district general election. In the event the special district does not provide the county auditor with the list of qualified voters by this date, the county auditor shall compile the list and charge the special district for the costs required for its preparation. The county auditor shall not be held responsible for any errors in the list.

Sec. 14. Section 13, chapter 396, Laws of 1985 and RCW 85.38.120 are each amended to read as follows:

The auditor of the county within which a special district, or the largest portion of a special district, is located shall assist such special district with its elections as provided in this section.

(1) The county auditor shall ((~~both~~)) publish ((and post notices for such elections. Notices shall be posted in at least four conspicuous public places within the special district at least two weeks before the election. Notices shall also be published)) notice of an election to create a special district and notice of all special district elections not conducted by mail in a newspaper of general circulation in the special district at least once not more than ten nor less than three days before the election. The notices shall describe the election, give its date and times to be held, and indicate the election site or sites in the special district where ballots may be cast.

(2) If a special district has at least five hundred qualified voters, then the county auditor shall publish in a newspaper of general circulation in the special district a notice of the special district election, including its dates and times to be held, and the sites for casting ballots. The notice shall also indicate the filing period and place for filing a declaration of candidacy to become a member of the governing body. This notice shall be published at least seven days prior to the closing of the filing period. If the special district has less than five hundred qualified voters, then the special district shall mail or deliver this notice to each qualified voter of the special district at least seven days prior to the closing of the filing period.

(3) All costs of the county auditor incurred related to such elections shall be reimbursed by the special district. ((~~A special district may also contract with the county auditor to staff the voting site during the election or contract with the county auditor to conduct the election pursuant to RCW 29.36.120.~~))

NEW SECTION. Sec. 15. A new section is added to chapter 85.38 RCW to read as follows:

(1) If a special district has less than five hundred qualified voters, then the special district must contract with the county auditor to conduct the special district elections. The county auditor shall have the discretion as to whether to conduct the election by mail.

(2) If a special district has at least five hundred qualified voters, the special district may contract with the county auditor to staff the voting site during the election or contract with the county auditor to conduct the election by mail. A special district that conducts its own elections must enter into an agreement with the county auditor that specifies the responsibilities of both parties.

(3) If the county auditor conducts a special district election by mail, then the provisions of chapter 29.36 RCW which govern elections by mail, except for the requirements of RCW 29.36.120, shall apply.

Sec. 16. Section 14, chapter 396, Laws of 1985 and RCW 85.38.130 are each amended to read as follows:

For special districts with at least five hundred qualified voters, the governing body of each special district shall appoint three voters of the special district, who may be members of the governing body, to act as election officials, unless the special district contracts with the county auditor to staff the election site. The election officials shall distribute a ballot or ballots to each voter of the special district who arrives at the voting place during the hours for the election on the day of the election and requests a ballot. Ballots shall also be provided to those persons arriving at the polling place during the hours for the election on the day of the election who present documents or evidence sufficient to establish their eligibility to vote. A person arriving at the polling place at such times who demands a ballot, but who fails to present documents or evidence which in the opinion of the election officials is sufficient to establish eligibility to vote, shall be given a ballot clearly marked as "challenged" and shall be allowed to vote. Each challenged ballot shall be numbered consecutively and a list of such persons and their ballot numbers shall be made.

The governing body of each special district shall designate those hours from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. during which the election shall be held: PROVIDED, That at least ((~~two~~)) six consecutive hours must be designated. When the election is over, the election officials shall secure the ballots and transport the ballots to the county auditor's office by noon of the day following the election. The auditor may, at his or her discretion, station a deputy auditor or auditors at the election site who shall observe the election and transport the ballots to the auditor's office. The auditor shall count the ballots and certify the count of votes for and against each measure and for each candidate appearing on the ballot. A separate count shall be made of any challenged ballots. A challenged ballot shall be counted as a normal ballot if documents or evidence are supplied to the auditor before 4:00 p.m. on the day after the election that, in the opinion of the auditor, are sufficient to establish the person's eligibility to vote.

Additionally, voting by absentee ballot shall be allowed in every special district. A request for an absentee ballot may be made by an eligible voter by mail or in person to the county auditor who supervises the special district elections. An absentee ballot shall be provided to each voter of a special district requesting such a ballot under this section. A person requesting such a ballot may present information establishing his or her eligibility to vote in such a special district. The auditor shall provide an absentee ballot to each person requesting an absentee ballot who is either included on the list of presumed eligible voters or who submits information which, in the auditor's opinion, establishes his or her eligibility to vote. The names of these persons so determined to be eligible to vote shall be added to the list of presumed eligible voters for the appropriate special district. The request for an absentee ballot must be made no more than forty-five days before the election. To be valid, absentee ballots must be postmarked on or before the day of the election and mailed to the county auditor.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 17. Section 31, chapter 225, Laws of 1909 and RCW 85.24.210 are each repealed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 18. RCW 85.05.015 as amended by this act is recodified as a section in chapter 85.08 RCW.