Feb. 14, 2008
House passes Schmick
cemetery district bill
The state House of
Representatives Wednesday gave unanimous approval to a bill that would
make the process easier for counties to establish local cemetery
districts. House Bill 3200, sponsored by
Rep. Joe Schmick,
would lower the number of voter signatures required on a
cemetery-district petition. The measure also would allow county
commissioners to put the proposal before voters as a ballot proposition.
Under current law, a petition to create a cemetery district must be
signed by no less than 15 percent of the registered voters who reside
within the boundaries of the proposed district. The bill would lower the
threshold to 10 percent.
Schmick, R-Colfax, said he introduced the bipartisan measure in response
to a problem in rural Eastern Washington.
“A cemetery association in Asotin County has had difficulty meeting
operating expenses for development and upkeep, and has not been able to
obtain the necessary number of signatures on a petition to create a
cemetery district,” explained Schmick. “By lowering the signature
requirement, the association would have a better chance of getting the
petition to the ballot, winning voter approval, and qualifying the new
cemetery district for public funding.”
Cemetery districts are considered municipal corporations under state
law, and cemeteries controlled and operated by cemetery districts are
considered “public cemeteries.” There are about 100 such districts that
operate municipal cemeteries in more than 70 cities and towns in the
state, according to the Municipal Research and Services Center of
Washington.
“Funeral customs and practices have changed through the years, but the
need for
public cemeteries continues,” Schmick said. “The modest provisions in
our bill would make establishing cemetery districts a little less
cumbersome, which will in turn ensure that not-for-profit cemeteries can
be properly maintained and continue to provide respectful and
cost-effective interments.”
The bill now goes to the Senate for further consideration.
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For more information, contact
Bill Taylor, Information Officer:
(360) 786-7074
