This bill amends RCW 29A.60.280 to standardize the period in which elected officials of counties, cities, towns, and special purpose districts (excluding school districts) must take their oaths of office. The legislation aims to resolve existing conflicts in the law regarding the assumption of office for local officials and to eliminate outdated statutory language. It specifies that the term of incumbents ends and the term of successors begins immediately after December 31st following the election, unless the election results are not certified by that date, in which case the term commences when the successor is qualified.

The bill introduces new language regarding the timing of the oath of office, stating that it must be taken as the final step of qualification and can occur between the date of the final certification of the election and the day before the new term begins. This replaces previous provisions that allowed the oath to be taken up to ten days prior to assuming office or at the last regular meeting of the governing body before the new official assumes office.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 29A.60.280
Bill as Passed Legislature: 29A.60.280
Session Law: 29A.60.280