BILL REQ. #:  S-5180.2 

READ FIRST TIME 02/08/08.   

     AN ACT Relating to special meetings; and amending RCW 42.30.080.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 42.30.080 and 2005 c 273 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     A special meeting may be called at any time by the presiding officer of the governing body of a public agency or by a majority of the members of the governing body by delivering written notice personally, by mail, by fax, or by electronic mail to each member of the governing body; and to each local newspaper of general circulation and ((to each)) local radio or television station ((which)) that has on file with the governing body a written request to be notified of such special meeting or of all special meetings. Such notice also shall be posted on the agency's web site, if any, and prominently displayed at the main entrance of the agency's principal location and the meeting site if it is not held at the agency's principal location. If the voting district for the governing body has fewer than one thousand registered voters, individuals residing in the district who have a written request to be notified of special meetings on file with the governing body shall receive such notice by fax, electronic mail, or telephonic message. Such notice must be delivered ((personally, by mail, by fax, or by electronic mail)) or posted, as applicable, at least twenty-four hours before the time of such meeting as specified in the notice. The call and notice shall specify the time and place of the special meeting and the business to be transacted. Final disposition shall not be taken on any other matter at such meetings by the governing body. Such written notice may be dispensed with as to any member who at or prior to the time the meeting convenes files with the clerk or secretary of the governing body a written waiver of notice. Such waiver may be given by telegram, by fax, or electronic mail. Such written notice may also be dispensed with as to any member who is actually present at the meeting at the time it convenes. The notices provided in this section may be dispensed with in the event a special meeting is called to deal with an emergency involving injury or damage to persons or property or the likelihood of such injury or damage, when time requirements of such notice would make notice impractical and increase the likelihood of such injury or damage. An agency shall be considered to have complied with the requirement for posting a notice on its web site if the agency made a good faith effort to post the notice at least twenty-four hours before the meeting and was unable to do so because of circumstances beyond its control. Such circumstances include, but are not limited to, problems with internet software, equipment or systems, and the inability or failure of a third-party contractor to post a notice in a timely manner.