BILL REQ. #:  H-0871.1 

Read first time 01/21/09.   Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

     AN ACT Relating to fiscal notes; amending RCW 43.88A.010, 43.88A.030, and 43.132.060; adding a new section to chapter 43.88A RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.132 RCW; and repealing RCW 43.88A.900.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 43.88A.010 and 1977 ex.s. c 25 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     The legislature hereby recognizes the necessity of developing a uniform and coordinated procedure for determining the expected fiscal impact of bills and resolutions on state government and of placing that information before the legislature before those bills and resolutions are heard and voted upon. The legislature also recognizes that developing such statements of fiscal impact, which shall be known as fiscal notes, requires the designation of a state agency to be principally responsible therefor.

Sec. 2   RCW 43.88A.030 and 2008 c 1 s 4 (Initiative Measure No. 960) are each amended to read as follows:
     When a fiscal note is prepared and approved as to form, accuracy, and completeness by the office of financial management, which depicts the expected fiscal impact of a bill or resolution, copies shall be filed immediately with:
     (1) The chairperson of the committee to which the bill or resolution was referred upon introduction in the house of origin;
     (2) The senate committee on ways and means, or its successor; and
     (3) The house committees on revenue and appropriations, or their successors.
     ((Whenever possible, such)) Fiscal notes and, in the case of a bill increasing taxes or fees, the cost projection and other information required under RCW 43.135.031 shall be provided prior to or at the time the bill or resolution is first heard by the committee of reference in the house of origin.
     When a fiscal note has been prepared for a bill or resolution, a copy of the fiscal note shall be placed in the bill books or otherwise attached to the bill or resolution and shall remain with the bill or resolution throughout the legislative process ((insofar as possible)). For bills increasing taxes or fees, the cost projection and other information required by RCW 43.135.031 shall be placed in the bill books or otherwise attached to the bill or resolution and shall remain with the bill or resolution throughout the legislative process insofar as possible.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 43.88A RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Before either house of the legislature may vote on final passage on a bill that if enacted into law would increase state government expenditures or would increase or decrease state government revenues, a fiscal note prepared pursuant to RCW 43.88A.020 must be available on the most recent version of the bill that applies to the bill as it is to be voted upon. In no case shall the fiscal note be made available more than seventy-two hours after the bill is placed on final passage.
     (2) The requirement in subsection (1) of this section may be suspended by the applicable house of the legislature with a vote of sixty percent of the members elected to that house.
     (3) In no case may the lack of any fiscal note as provided in this chapter or any error in the accuracy of such a fiscal note affect the validity of any measure otherwise duly passed by the legislature.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 43.132 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Before either house of the legislature may vote on final passage on a bill that if enacted into law would increase local government expenditures or would increase or decrease local government revenues, a fiscal note prepared pursuant to RCW 43.132.020 must be available that applies to the bill as it is to be voted upon.
     (2) The requirement in subsection (1) of this section may be suspended by the applicable house of the legislature with a vote of sixty percent of the members elected to that house.
     (3) In no case shall the fiscal note be made available more than seventy-two hours after the bill is placed on final passage.

Sec. 5   RCW 43.132.060 and 2000 c 182 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) ((Nothing in this chapter shall prevent either house of the legislature from acting on any bill or resolution before it as otherwise provided by the state Constitution, by law, and by the rules of the senate and house of representatives, nor shall)) In no case may the lack of any fiscal note as provided in this chapter or any error in the accuracy ((thereof)) of such a fiscal note affect the validity of any measure otherwise duly passed by the legislature.
     (2) Subsection (1) of this section shall not alter the responsibilities of RCW 43.135.060.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   RCW 43.88A.900 (Construction of chapter) and 1977 ex.s. c 25 s 5 are each repealed.