AN ACT Relating to annexation by water districts and sewer districts; and amending RCW 56.24.070 and 57.24.010.

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

Sec. 1. Section 1, chapter 11, Laws of 1967 ex. sess. as last amended by section 56, chapter 469, Laws of 1985 and RCW 56.24.070 are each amended to read as follows:

((~~The~~)) Territory ((~~adjoining or in close proximity to a district~~)) within the county or counties in which a district is located, or territory adjoining or in close proximity to a district but which is located in another county, may be annexed to and become a part of the district in the following manner: Twenty percent of the number of registered voters residing in the territory proposed to be annexed who voted at the last election may file a petition with the district commissioners and cause the question to be submitted to the electors of the territory whether the territory will be annexed and become a part of the district. If the commissioners concur in the petition, they shall file it with the county election officer, who shall, within ten days, examine the signatures thereon and certify to the sufficiency or insufficiency thereof; and for such purpose the county election officer shall have access to all registration books in the possession of the officers of any city or town in the proposed district. If the petition contains a sufficient number of signatures, the election officer shall transmit it, together with a certificate of sufficiency attached thereto to the sewer commissioners of the district. If there are no electors residing in the territory to be annexed, the petition may be signed by such a number as appear of record to own at least a majority of the acreage in the territory, and the petition shall disclose the total number of acres of land in the territory and the names of all record owners of land therein. If the commissioners are satisfied as to the sufficiency of the petition and concur therein, they shall send it, together with their certificate of concurrence attached thereto to the county legislative authority.

The county legislative authority, upon receipt of a petition certified to contain a sufficient number of signatures of electors, or upon receipt of a petition signed by such a number as own at least a majority of the acreage, together with a certificate of concurrence signed by the sewer commissioners, at a regular or special meeting shall cause to be published once a week for at least two weeks in a newspaper in general circulation throughout the territory proposed to be annexed a notice that the petition has been filed, stating the time of the meeting at which it shall be presented, and setting forth the boundaries of the territory proposed to be annexed.

Sec. 2. Section 15, chapter 18, Laws of 1959 as amended by section 21, chapter 17, Laws of 1982 1st ex. sess. and RCW 57.24.010 are each amended to read as follows:

((~~The~~)) Territory ((~~adjoining or in close proximity to a district~~)) within the county or counties in which a district is located, or territory adjoining or in close proximity to a district but which is located in another county, may be annexed to and become a part of the district in the following manner: Twenty percent of the number of registered voters residing in the territory proposed to be annexed who voted at the last election may file a petition with the district commissioners and cause the question to be submitted to the electors of the territory whether such territory will be annexed and become a part of the district. If the commissioners concur in the petition, they shall file it with the county election officer of each county in which the real property proposed to be annexed is located, who shall, within ten days, examine and validate the signatures thereon and certify to the sufficiency or insufficiency thereof; and for such purpose the county election officer shall have access to all registration books in the possession of the officers of any city or town in the proposed district. If the petition contains a sufficient number of signatures, the county election officer of the county in which the real property proposed to be annexed is located shall transmit it, together with a certificate of sufficiency attached thereto to the water commissioners of the district. If there are no electors residing in the territory to be annexed, the petition may be signed by such a number as appear of record to own at least a majority of the acreage in the territory, and the petition shall disclose the total number of acres of land in the territory and the names of all record owners of land therein. If the commissioners are satisfied as to the sufficiency of the petition and concur therein, they shall send it, together with their certificate of concurrence attached thereto to the county legislative authority of each county in which the territory proposed to be annexed is located.

The county legislative authority, upon receipt of a petition certified to contain a sufficient number of signatures of electors, or upon receipt of a petition signed by such a number as own at least a majority of the acreage, together with a certificate of concurrence signed by the water commissioners, at a regular or special meeting shall cause to be published once a week for at least two weeks in a newspaper in general circulation throughout the territory proposed to be annexed a notice that the petition has been filed, stating the time of the meeting at which it shall be presented, and setting forth the boundaries of the territory proposed to be annexed.