FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 6691

C 51 L 02

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Authorizing five‑member port commissions to have five commissioner districts.

Sponsors:  Senator Spanel.

Senate Committee on State & Local Government

House Committee on Local Government & Housing

Background:  The governance of port districts is by commissioners who are nominated either at-large or by a commissioner district.  All commissioners (either three or five) are elected at- large.

It is possible for a less-than-countywide port district in a county having a population of 500,000 or more to have three commissioner districts and five commissioners.  This happens when two of the commissioners are both nominated and elected at-large.  The mechanism for converting the two at-large commissioners into commissioners nominated by district, retaining all five commissioners, is not found in statute.

Summary:  In port districts having three commissioner districts and five commissioners, two of whom are nominated at-large, the port district may be divided into five commissioner districts.  This change may either be upon petition of 10 percent of the voters in the port district or by resolution of the port district's board of commissioners.  In either case, the increase from three to five commissioner districts requires approval of the voters of the port district at the next general or special election.

Upon approval by the voters, the commissioner districts are redrawn to become five in number.  All incumbent commissioners continue to represent a district for the remainder of their respective terms.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate453

House970

Effective:  June 13, 2002