PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: New, permanent rule WAC 16-07-001 Unsigned ballot envelopes: Elections for advisory votes, referenda, and board member selection, this proposed new rule section establishes department procedures for conducting commodity commission elections and specifically addresses how the department will handle unsigned ballots envelopes.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapters 15.65 and 15.66 RCW.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The Department of Agriculture will propose rules that will address how the department will handle unsigned ballots submitted by eligible voters when conducting commodity commission advisory votes, referenda and board member elections.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: The department will communicate with all commodity commissions via their executive directors regarding the intent of the proposed new rules. It will also provide a draft of the proposed rule for comment. Finally, notice will be provided to each commission via the executive director identifying the date, time and location of the public hearing and explaining how interested parties may submit testimony on the proposed rule.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting George Huffman, Rules Coordinator, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Administrative Regulations Program, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, phone (360) 902-1802.
December 20, 2004
Mary A. Martin Toohey
for William Brookreson
Deputy Director