Brief Description: Creating a task force to enhance youth voter education programs.

Sponsors: Representatives Upthegrove, Ruderman, Miloscia, Nixon, Tom, Eickmeyer, Santos, Ormsby, Kagi and Dickerson.

Hearing Date: 1/30/04

Staff: Katie Blinn (786-7114).

Background:

The Office of the Secretary of State (Secretary's Office), county auditors, political parties, high school civics organizations, and voting organizations have programs that educate high school students about voting and encourage them to become active in elections once they are eligible to vote.

Summary of Bill:

The Secretary's Office must convene a task force to explore opportunities for enhancing voter education programs for youth. Staff support shall be provided by the Secretary's Office, and the task force shall have 16 members:

•    Four members shall be members of the Legislature, one from each caucus of each house;

•    At least two members shall represent the Secretary's Office;

•    At least two members shall represent county auditors;

•    At least two members shall represent the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), at least one of whom must represent the Office of Private Education within the OSPI; and

•    The remaining members shall be from organizations that participate in voting, civics, or educational programs for youth, appointed by the Secretary's Office.

The task force must research the current opportunities for high school students to learn about voting, share information regarding those events and programs that have been successful, research opportunities for organizations to collaborate, develop realistic and effective strategies to expose all high school students to voting education programs and events, and research the costs and any possible funding sources. The task force shall make recommendations and report back to the Legislature during the 2006 legislative session.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 26, 2004.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.