FINAL BILL REPORT

                            SB 5977

                          C 368 L 93

                      SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Verifying initiative and referendum petitions.

SPONSORS: Senator Rinehart; by request of Office of Financial Management

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

BACKGROUND:

The Secretary of State is authorized by law to use a statistical sampling method to verify whether a state initiative or referendum petition does or does not contain the constitutionally required minimum number of valid signatures.  The sampling method cannot be used as the source of this verification if the sampling technique indicates that less than 110 percent of the required number of valid signatures are on petitions for a measure (RCW 29.79.200).  If signatures must be verified and the statistical method cannot be used, each signature on the petitions must be individually verified and counted.

SUMMARY:

A statistical sampling method may be used in verifying the signature count for an initiative or referendum if the method indicates that the petition contains the required number of valid signatures (rather than 110 percent of the required number of valid signatures).

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate    30   12

House     96   1

EFFECTIVE:July 1, 1993