FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6354

C 127 L 12

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Requiring state agencies to offer electronic filing for business forms.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Economic Development, Trade & Innovation (originally sponsored by Senators Rolfes, Kastama, Chase, Tom, Frockt and McAuliffe).

Senate Committee on Economic Development, Trade & Innovation

House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs

Background: The Business License Service (BLS), within the Department of Revenue, provides a single location where businesses may apply for a master license incorporating separate licenses issued by different state agencies. Presently over 100 state licenses, 200 state endorsements, and 70 city licenses are available via BLS. BLS provisions do not apply to certain regulated business and professional activities including those regulated under the Consumer Loan Act, credit unions, banks and trust companies, mutual savings banks, savings and loan associations, and those regulated under the insurance statutes.

In addition to licensure requirements, there are also agency specific documents, forms, and fees that a business must take notice of and timely satisfy. Currently agencies are not required by statute to provide businesses with an electronic option for completing such materials.

Summary: A state agency that requires a business to submit a document, form, or payment of fee in paper format must, with limited exceptions, provide the business with an option to submit such materials electronically. Unless otherwise obligated, a business may authorize a second party to submit such filing requirements on its behalf.

Exceptions to the electronic filing requirement apply where there is a legal requirement for materials to be submitted in paper format or when it is not technically or fiscally feasible or practical or in the best interest of businesses for such materials to be submitted electronically.

If applicable, the director of an agency or the director's designee must, within existing resources, establish and maintain a process to notify the public as to what materials have been exempt from electronic filing.

Agencies must add the capability for electronic submissions of existing documents, forms, and fees as part of their normal operations. In addition, any new documents, forms, or fees required of a business must be capable of electronic submission within a reasonable time following either their creation or the implementation of the new requirement.

Agencies must document how they plan to transition from paper to electronic forms.

Votes on Final Passage: