SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5973

               AS PASSED SENATE, APRIL 14, 1993

Brief Description:  Requiring the secretary of state to provide a copy of the state‑wide computer file of registered voters to persons requesting a copy.

SPONSORS: Senators Gaspard and Rinehart; by request of Office of Financial Management

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Rinehart, Chairman; Spanel, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Gaspard, Hargrove, Hochstatter, Jesernig, McDonald, Owen, Pelz, Quigley, Roach, Snyder, Sutherland, West, Williams, and Wojahn.

Staff:  Steve Jones (786‑7715)

Hearing Dates: April 9, 1993; April 13, 1993

BACKGROUND:

Twice each year, each county of the state is required to supply to the Secretary of State a computer tape of all registered voters in the county.  The state is required to reimburse each county for the cost of duplicating and mailing the tape.

Upon receipt of the computerized voter registration records from the counties, the Secretary of State is required to compile the records and provide the compilation to the state central committee of each major political party.  The cost of reimbursing the counties and compiling the computer tape is between $6,000 and $8,000 each time it is compiled.  However, the political parties are required to pay only the cost of duplicating the computer tape, which is approximately $300.

SUMMARY:

Any person may request a copy of the computer tape of statewide voter registrations by making a request in writing by June 15 or November 15 of each year and depositing with the Secretary of State sufficient funds to cover the full cost of assembling, compiling, and distributing the tape.  The actual charge for the tape will vary with the number of persons requesting the tape.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  $59,000

Fiscal Note:  none requested

Effective Date:  July 1, 1993

TESTIMONY FOR:  None

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  No one