02/26/2004 03:33 PM Senate STA

        SB 227-MUNI INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM ELECTIONS                                                                     
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GARY  STEVENS announced SB  227 to be up  for consideration                                                               
and  asked  for   a  motion  to  adopt   the  proposed  committee                                                               
substitute (CS) as the working document.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR JOHN COWDERY motioned to  adopt committee substitute (CS)                                                               
SB  227, \D  version, as  the  working document.  There being  no                                                               
objection, it was so ordered.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  GARY STEVENS  noted that  the CS  addresses the  questions                                                               
that  were raised  at the  last hearing.  He asked  Mr. Letch  to                                                               
elaborate.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
DOUG  LETCH, staff  to sponsor,  Senator  Gary Stevens  explained                                                               
that the CS clearly gives  municipalities the option of putting a                                                               
referendum or  initiative question  before voters at  a regularly                                                               
scheduled  election or  at  a special  election  that is  already                                                               
scheduled. If  a special  election is  not already  scheduled and                                                               
the  local governing  body  determines  that it  is  in the  best                                                               
interest  of the  municipality to  address the  issue before  the                                                               
next regular  election, which may be  up to 14 months  away, they                                                               
may by  ordinance order a special  election to be held  within 75                                                               
days,  but  not sooner  than  45  days  after the  referendum  or                                                               
initiative petition is certified.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COWDERY  asked if  the election  would happen  between 60                                                               
and 75 days.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. LETCH  said that is  correct. This gives  greater flexibility                                                               
to the governing body in a municipality.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GARY  STEVENS added that  the CS addresses  Senator Guess's                                                               
concerns. Although she couldn't attend  the hearing, she said she                                                               
was satisfied with  the change. He asked for the  pleasure of the                                                               
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COWDERY motioned to move  CSSB 227(STA), \D version, from                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations  and attached  fiscal                                                               
note. There being no objection, it was so ordered.