SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 6063

      AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS,

                       JANUARY 26, 1994

Brief Description:  Concerning local voters' pamphlets.

SPONSORS: Senators Spanel, Winsley, Haugen and Franklin

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6063 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Haugen, Chairman; Drew, Vice Chairman; Loveland, Oke, Owen and Winsley.

Staff:  Diane Smith (786‑7410)

Hearing Dates: January 19, 1994; January 26, 1994

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 born by the local jurisdictions included in it.  The office of county auditor is elective and partisan.  All elective officers in cities and towns are nonpartisan. 

SUMMARY:

The county auditor shall notify cities and towns that a voters' pamphlet will be produced.  The city or town's participation in the voters' pamphlet is mandatory.  The county auditor shall appoint the committee to prepare the statements for and against the measure upon which a vote is to be taken.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Two technical amendments are made, which bring the bill into conformity with the drafter's intent.  The county legislative authority must adopt an ordinance authorizing the county auditor to publish and distribute a local voters' pamphlet.  The words "special taxing district" are changed to "special purpose district."

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested January 11, 1994

TESTIMONY FOR:

Counties deciding to publish a local voters' pamphlet must include all issues, thus giving electorate information sufficient for well-informed decision making.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

The local governmental unit which will bear the cost of its inclusion in the pamphlet should be the one to decide whether or not to participate in the publication.  Some special districts' elections are of candidates largely running unopposed.

TESTIFIED:  Sam Reed, Thurston County Auditor (pro); Bob Terwilliger, Snohomish County Auditor (pro); Karen Flynn, Kitsap County Auditor (pro); Stan Finkelstein, AWC (con)