Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
State Government

HB 1229

Brief Description:  Providing fiscal impact statements for ballot measures.

Sponsors:  Representatives D. Schmidt, Lambert, Pearson, Pennington, Clements, Ruderman and Kagi.

Brief Summary of Bill

$The Office of Financial Management, in consultation with the Secretary of State, prepares a fiscal impact statement for each state initiative or referendum measures appearing on the ballot.

$The fiscal impact statement must be available on the Secretary of State's web site and is included in the state voters' pamphlet.

Hearing Date:  1/29/01

Staff:  Steve Lundin (786‑7127).

Background: 

The state constitution vests the legislative power of the state in the State Legislature, but grants state voters initiative and referendum on state legislation.  The Secretary of State prepares a state voters' pamphlet that, among other subjects, includes information on each state initiative or referendum measure submitted to state voters.

Summary of Bill: 

The Office of Financial Management, in consultation with the Secretary of State, prepares a fiscal impact statement on each state initiative or referendum measure submitted to the voters.  The fiscal impact statement must be written in clear and concise language and avoid legal and technical terms when possible.  A fiscal impact statement may include easily understood graphics.

A fiscal impact statement must describe any projected increase or decrease in revenues, costs, expenditures, or indebtedness that the state or local governments will experience if the measure were approved.  Where appropriate, a fiscal impact statement may include both estimated dollar amounts and a description placing the estimated dollar amount into context.  A fiscal impact statement must include both a summary (not to exceed 100 words) and a more detailed statement that includes assumptions that were made to develop the fiscal impacts.

Fiscal impact statements must be available online from the secretary of state's web site and be included in the state voters' pamphlet.

Rulemaking Authority:  No express authority.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.