S-245                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 3001

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State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senators Thompson, Zimmerman, Conner and von Reichbauer

Prefiled with Secretary of the Senate 12/3/84.  Read first time 1/15/85 and referred to Committee on Governmental Operations.

AN ACT Relating to port commissioner vacancies; and amending RCW 53.12.150.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 8, chapter 17, Laws of 1959 as last amended by section 1, chapter 11, Laws of 1983 and RCW 53.12.150 are each amended to read as follows:

          A vacancy in the office of port commissioner created by death, resignation, or otherwise, shall be filled as follows:

          (1) If there are simultaneously such number of vacancies that less than a majority of the full number of commissioners fixed by law remain in office, the legislative authority of the county shall within ((fifteen)) sixty days of such vacancies appoint the number of commissioners necessary to provide a majority.  The commissioners thus appointed, together with any remaining commissioners, shall then, within ((fifteen)) sixty days of their appointment, meet and appoint the number of commissioners needed to complete the board of commissioners.  However, if they fail to fill the remaining vacancies within this ((fifteen)) sixty-day period, the legislative authority of the county shall make the necessary appointments.

          (2) If a majority of the full number of commissioners fixed by law remains on the board, the remaining commissioners shall fill any vacancies.    However, if they fail to fill any vacancy within ((fifteen)) sixty days of its occurrence, ((or within fifteen days after March 10, 1983,)) the legislative authority of the county shall make the necessary appointment.

          (3) ((Appointments made pursuant to this section shall be ad interim to the next general election.)) A person appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of port commissioner shall serve until a successor is elected and qualified.