FINAL BILL REPORT

                           SSB 6063

                          C 191 L 94

                      SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Concerning local voters' pamphlets.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Spanel, Winsley, Haugen and Franklin)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

BACKGROUND:

The county auditor notifies each city or town that a voters' pamphlet will be produced.  Cities and towns then have a choice to participate or not to participate in a local voters' pamphlet.  If the choice is made to participate, then the legislative authority of the city or town appoints a committee to prepare the statement for and against the measure upon which a vote is to be taken.  The cost of a local voters' pamphlet is borne by the participating local jurisdictions.

SUMMARY:

Not later than 90 days before a county publishes a local voters' pamphlet, the county auditor must notify each local government located entirely within the county that the pamphlet will be published. 

If the pamphlet is for a primary or general election, it must cover all of the offices and ballot measures of the local governments located within the county to be voted upon at the primary or election.  However, entries for offices and ballot measures do not have to be included for:  a first class or code city that publishes and distributes its own pamphlet; a town or city that is obligated by ordinance or charter to publish and distribute such a pamphlet and that does so; or a jurisdiction for which participation in the pamphlet would create an undue hardship and which has been relieved of this duty by the county legislative authority.  In the latter case, the waiver must be provided not later than 60 days before the pamphlet is to be published.

If committees for preparing the arguments for and against the ballot measure for a unit of local government have not been appointed by that local government by the 45th day before the publication of the pamphlet, the county auditor must appoint the committees, whenever possible.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate    41   8

House     96   0   (House amended)

Senate    32   10   (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:June 9, 1994