SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5620

             AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS,

                               FEBRUARY 25, 1991

Brief Description:  Changing the allocation of election costs for certain years.

SPONSORS:Senators McCaslin and Madsen; by request of Secretary of State.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chairman; Madsen, and Matson. 

Staff:  Rod McAulay (786‑7754)

Hearing Dates:February 21, 1991; February 25, 1991

BACKGROUND:

County and local governments pay in full or their proportionate share of the costs of elections of their officials and other local ballot measures.  The state contributes a prorated share to the costs of elections only:

      -whenever state officers or measures are voted upon at a state primary or general election held in an odd-numbered year; and

      -whenever a primary or vacancy election is held to fill a vacancy in the position of United States Senator or Representative.

SUMMARY:

The state shall assume a prorated share of the costs of elections whenever federal offices, statewide offices, legislative offices or state measures are voted upon at a state primary, special election, or state general election. For state primaries and general elections in the years 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2000, the prorated share paid by the state to each county shall be 20 percent, 40 percent, 60 percent and 80 percent respectively, of what would be the full prorated share.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested February 13, 1991

Effective Date:  January 1, 1994

TESTIMONY FOR:

State will pay its share of all elections involving state candidates, state issues and U.S. Senators and Representatives.  Eases the cost impact by stair-stepping state's contributions over 10 years.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Ralph Munro, Secretary of State (pro); Sam Reed, Auditors' Association (pro)