SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5977

               AS PASSED SENATE, APRIL 21, 1993

Brief Description:  Verifying initiative and referendum petitions.

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

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Staff:  Steve Jones (786‑7440)

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).

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect July 1, 1993.