HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2423

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Local Government

Title:  An act relating to publication of ordinances.

Brief Description:  Allowing the publication of the title of an ordinance authorizing indebtedness to constitute publication of a summary of the ordinance.

Sponsors:  Representatives Springer, H. Myers and Edmondson.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Local Government, February 4, 1994, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives H. Myers, Chair; Springer, Vice Chair; Edmondson, Ranking Minority Member; Reams, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Horn; Moak; Rayburn; Van Luven and Zellinsky.

Minority Report:  Without recommendation.  Signed by 2 members:  Representatives Dunshee and R. Fisher.

Staff:  Steve Lundin (786-7127).

Background:  Statutes relating to each class of city or town require the city or town to publish a copy of each ordinance, or a summary of each ordinance, that is adopted.  A summary constitutes a brief description of the ordinance that succinctly describes the main points of the ordinance.

A general statute provides that whenever a county, city, or town is required to publish legal notices containing the full text of any proposed or adopted ordinance, the county, city, or town may publish a summary of the ordinance that includes: (1) the name of the county, city, or town; (2) the formal identification or citation of the ordinance; (3) a descriptive title; (4) a section-by-section summary; (5) any other information that the local government finds necessary to provide a complete summary; and (6) a statement that the full text will be mailed upon request.

Summary of Bill:  A county, city, or town may publish the title of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness in lieu of a complete summary and a section-by-section summary of the ordinance.

Every city and town is directed to provide the municipal research council or its designee with a copy of the full text of each regulatory ordinance and such other kinds of ordinances that may be described in a list promulgated by the municipal research council or its designee.  The direction to provide copies of ordinances is stated to be "directory and not mandatory."

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This would provide a tremendous cost savings to the cities.  The bill titles provide sufficient notice to citizens.

Testimony Against:  There are expenses that are inherent in government and the people need to be kept informed. The public is hearing less and less what the government is doing and are showing their frustrations as evidenced by the recent votes in support of the initiatives. 

Witnesses:  (pro:) Jim Justin, Association of Washington Cities; Charlotte Taylor, city of Lacey, Gayla Gjertzen, city of Tumwater; and Roland Thompson, Allied Daily Newspapers (con).