SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 2313

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Labor, Commerce & Financial Institutions, February 28, 2002

Title:  An act relating to electronic filing and registration.

Brief Description:  Allowing electronic filing and registration for charities, corporations, and partnerships.

Sponsors:  Representatives Lantz, Anderson, Rockefeller, Kenney, Ogden, Upthegrove, Kagi, Dunn and Esser; by request of Secretary of State.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Labor, Commerce & Financial Institutions:  2/26/02, 2/28/02 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Keiser, Vice Chair; Benton, Deccio, Fairley, Franklin, Gardner, Hochstatter, Honeyford, Rasmussen, Regala and Winsley.

Staff:  Elizabeth Mitchell (786‑7430)

Background:  Charitable organizations, limited liability companies, and nonprofit organizations are required to file a number of documents with the Secretary of State.  Current law requires some of these documents to be submitted on paper with handwritten signatures and duplicate paper copies.  There is concern that these laws do not allow for electronic filing of some documents.           

Summary of Bill:  A charitable organization registration can be filed with either a handwritten signature or an electronic substitute to be determined by rule by the secretary.  The secretary, not the Attorney General, can assess civil penalties for violations of charitable organization laws.

The secretary may adopt rules to facilitate electronic filing for paperwork submitted by limited liability companies and nonprofit organizations.  The term "duplicate originals" is replaced with

"exact or conformed copy" to allow for electronic filing.

Post office addresses used by limited liability companies are not required to be located in the same city as a registered office of the company.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  No one.