HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESB 5852

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                    Government Operations

Title:  An act relating to the presidential preference primary.

Brief Description:  Revising the presidential primary.

Sponsors:  Senators Drew, Sheldon, Wood, Prince, Oke and Winsley; by request of Secretary of State.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Government Operations:  3/29/95, 3/31/95 [DPA].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Reams, Chairman; Goldsmith, Vice Chairman; L. Thomas, Vice Chairman; Rust, Ranking Minority Member; Scott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chopp; R. Fisher; Hargrove; Honeyford; D. Schmidt; Sommers; Van Luven and Wolfe.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 2 members:  Representatives Hymes and Mulliken.

Staff:  Steve Lundin (786-7127).

Background:  Initiative Measure No. 99 was approved by state voters in 1988 providing for a presidential preference primary for voters to express their preferences for a nominee of a major political party for the office of president.

The primary occurs in a presidential election year on the fourth Tuesday of May or on such other date as may be selected by the Secretary of State to advance the concept of a regional primary.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The date of the presidential preference primary is moved from the fourth Tuesday in May, to the second Tuesday in March, of a presidential election year.  The authority of Secretary of State to select another date, to advance the concept of a regional primary, is limited to proposing an alternative date that may be approved a majority vote the committee on the presidential primary.  The committee on the presidential primary is composed of the majority and minority leaders of the Senate, the speaker and minority leader of the House of Representatives, the chair and vice chair of the central committee of each major political party, and the Secretary of State.

Amended Bill Compared to Engrossed Bill:  All the provisions were stricken except those relating to changes in the date of the primary.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  We need this change to run an effective primary.  This will allow for a better date.

Testimony Against:  The original bill interferes with party prerogatives.

Testified:  Ralph Munro, Secretary of State; Reed Davis, King County Republican Party; Todd Maoris, Washington State GOP; Karen Flynn, Kitsap County Auditor; and Bob Terwilliger, Snohomish County Auditor;.