2612-S AMH TAYL CLYN 372

SHB 2612 - H AMD 982

By Representative Taylor

    Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  (1) The "voting rights act racially polarized voting" task force is established, with voting members appointed as provided in this subsection (1).

    (a) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives.

    (b) The president of the senate shall appoint one voting member from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate.

    (c) The legislative leaders of the two largest political parties in each house of the legislature shall jointly appoint the following non-voting members:

    (i) Two members representing local governments with fewer than fifty thousand residents and two members representing local governments with fifty thousand or more residents.  From among these four members, there shall be representation from the following regions of Washington state:  Northeast; northwest; southeast; and southwest;

    (ii) One member each from the Seattle University, Gonzaga University, and the University of Washington, with legal or statistical knowledge of the Federal voting rights act.

    (iii) An employee of the United States attorneys office, civil division, if they would like to participate;

    (iv) An employee of the United States department of justice, if they would like to participate;

    (v) An employee of the attorney general's office;

    (vi) An employee of the secretary of state's Office;

    (vii) One member from and representing the Asian American community

    (viii) one member from and representing the Latino-American community

    (ix) one member from the African-American community;

    (x) one member from a federally recognized Indian tribe physically located in Washington state that has not nor intends to retroceed civil jurisdiction;

    (xi) An elected auditor on behalf of the Washington association of auditors; and

    (xii) A representative of the Washington association of county officials.

    (d) The task force's cochairs shall be the senator affiliated with the democratic caucus and the representative affiliated with the republican caucus.  The representative affiliated with the republican caucus shall convene the initial meeting of the task force.

    (2) The task force shall investigate racially polarized voting and/or vote dilution occurrences in elections in Washington State over the last two decades.

    (3)(a) The task force may make recommendations regarding their findings and potential improvements for creating districts for voting in this state to avoid racially polarized voting and vote dilution occurrences

    (b) Findings and recommendations of the task force must be determined by consensus of the voting members of the task force.  A draft version of the findings and recommendations shall be made available to the public prior to being submitted to the governor and the legislature, and the task force shall accept public testimony regarding its draft findings and recommendations.

    (4) Task force meetings shall be open to the public.  The task force must, subject to expenditure approvals required in subsection (7) of this section, provide opportunities for members and the public to listen to the proceedings telephonically or through other available technologies.

    (5) Staff support for the task force must be provided by the senate committee services and the house of representatives office of program research.

    (6) Legislative members of the task force must be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120.  Nonlegislative members are not eligible for travel reimbursements unless funding for those reimbursements, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is provided by June 30, 2012, in the omnibus appropriations act.

    (7) The expenses of the task force must be paid jointly by the house of representatives and the senate.  Task force expenditures are subject to approval by the house of representatives executive rules committee and the senate facilities and operations committee, or their successor committees.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  Sections 1 through 2 of this act expire December 31, 2013."

    Correct the title.

EFFECT:   Strikes the underlying bill and establishes a "Voting Rights Act Racially Polarized Voting" task force to investigate and report on racially polarized voting and/or dilution occurrences in elections in the state over the last two decades.

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