HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2240

                       As Passed House

                      February 4, 1994

Title:  An act relating to correcting a double amendment related to records of registered voters.

Brief Description:  Correcting a double amendment related to records of registered voters.

Sponsors:  Representatives Appelwick and Padden; by request of Law Revision Commission.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Judiciary, January 26, 1994, DP;

  Passed House, February 4, 1994, 92-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 16 members:  Representatives Appelwick, Chair; Johanson, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Minority Member; Ballasiotes, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell; Chappell; Eide; Forner; J. Kohl; Long; Morris; H. Myers; Schmidt; Scott; Tate and Wineberry.

Staff:  Bill Perry (786-7123).

Background:  Sometimes separate bills in a legislative session amend the same section of existing law, each without incorporating the changes made by the other.  If two such bills become law, a so-called "double amendment" is created. 

Sometimes the amendments may be administratively merged by the code reviser's office because the language changes in the two bills fit together without necessity of any further editing.  In other instances, some additional adjustment in language may be necessary to combine the two enactments, or it may be found that the policy substance of the two enactments are simply inconsistent.  One of the functions of the Law Revision Commission is to review double amendments for reconciliation.

In 1993, both SHB 1084 and SB 5973 amended RCW 29.04.160.  SHB 1084 was the jury source list bill.  Among other things, it amended RCW 29.04.160 to direct the secretary of state to supply the Department of Information Services with a copy of the statewide list of registered voters.  SB 5973 also amended RCW 29.04.160 to direct the secretary of state to send this information to anyone requesting it, in addition to sending it to the "state central committee."  SB 5973 amends RCW 29.04.150 to authorize anyone, including a "political party organization" to request the information under RCW 29.04.160.

The Law Revision Commission has recommended reconciling the double amendments to RCW 29.04.160.

Summary of Bill:  The 1993 double amendments to RCW 29.04.160 are merged.  The term "state central committee" is replaced with the term "political party organization."

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The bill corrects a double amendment.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Professor Marjorie Rombauer, Washington Law Revision Commission (pro).