Creation of Libraries. 

There are a variety of methods by which public libraries are created, managed, and dissolved.  Any county, city, or town may establish a public library.  In addition, a public library may be created through the establishment of a library district.  A library district generally provides library services for all areas outside of incorporated cities and towns.  There are four types of library districts:  rural county library districts, intercounty rural library districts, rural partial-county library districts, and island library districts.  A qualifying city or town may become a part of a library district through an annexation process.

Dissolution of Libraries Created by Counties, Cities, and Towns.
Public libraries, excluding libraries of library districts, may be dissolved by a majority vote of qualified electors of the county, city, or town in which the library is located.  Before the question of dissolution may be placed on the ballot, however, a petition must be signed by 100 taxpayers from the respective county, city, or town and filed with the legislative body.

Dissolution of Library Districts.
After a library district has been in operation for three or more years, it, and consequently the library created by the district, may be dissolved by a majority vote of all qualified electors residing outside of incorporated cities and towns.  Before a proposition for the dissolution of a library district may be placed on the ballot, a petition requesting such dissolution must be signed by at least 10 percent of the qualified electors of the district residing outside of incorporated cities or towns and filed with the district board of trustees at least 90 days prior to the election.  The statute also requires that certain types of library districts be dissolved in specific situations.

Dissolution of Any Library.
The number of voters needed to sign a petition to dissolve any library before the question may be placed on the ballot is increased to 25 percent of the governmental unit's qualified electors.  For library districts, this includes voters residing in incorporated cities and towns within a library district.  The petition must be filed at least 90 days prior to holding such election. 

Dissolution of Library Districts.
The required threshold needed to place a proposition for dissolution of a library district on the ballot is increased to 25 percent of qualified voters within a library district.  The exclusion of voters residing within incorporated cities or towns within the district from voting on the question of dissolving the district is removed.

(In support) Libraries are an essential resource for Washingtonians, and often serve as the only source of technology, workforce education, internet, and job application tools for entire communities.  Particularly given the recent events in Dayton County, Washington libraries are being threatened with censorship and rural libraries are especially vulnerable to the efforts of small groups attempting to dissolve these important communal resources.  The process for dissolving libraries or library districts must be democratic, and this bill is necessary to safeguard that process.  Under current law, which has not been updated in 40 years, two thirds of library taxpayers in Dayton County would not have been able to vote on the library dissolution proposition.  Raising the petition signature threshold and expanding voter eligibility ensures better representation and that the process for dissolving libraries conforms with the process for other recall measures.

(Opposed) None.

Carolyn Logue, Washington Library Association; Elise Severe, Neighbors United for Progress; David Elliott, Office of the Secretary of State; and Tanya Patton.