SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5067

                As Passed Senate, March 1, 1995

Title:  An act relating to distribution and pricing of session laws, legislative journals, and supreme court and court of appeals reports.

Brief Description:  Simplifying distribution and pricing of state legal publications.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Snyder and Sellar).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  1/24/95, 1/31/95 [DPS].

Passed Senate, 3/1/95, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5067 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Sheldon, Vice Chair; Drew, Hale, Heavey, McCaslin and Winsley.

Staff:  Diane Smith (786-7410)

Background:  The receipt, distribution, sale and exchange of session laws, legislative journals, Supreme Court and appeals reports are detailed in statute.  Many governmental officials receive copies of these documents automatically.  The prices charged for the sale of surplus copies is set at specific dollar amounts.  It is the duty of the State Law Librarian to receive, distribute, sell and exchange all of these documents, except the temporary edition of the session laws.  The temporary edition of the session laws are distributed and sold by the Statute Law Committee.

Summary of Bill:  Most of the State Law Librarians's duties pertaining to the receipt, distribution, sale and exchange of public documents are shifted to the Statute Law Committee, the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate.  The exceptions are the Supreme Court reports and the appeals court reports, which are purchased for the use of the state.  These continue to be delivered to the State Law Librarian.

The temporary and permanent editions of the session laws are distributed only at the request of legislators and other governmental officials, agencies and offices.

The charge for these documents is set by the Statute Law Committee, the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate in order to recover costs.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 17, 1995.

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

Testimony For:  The publishing of these documents is very expensive.  The number published can be reduced by the passage of this bill.  The responsibility for the documents was historically placed with the State Law Librarian.  The bill facilitates a more sensible distribution of responsibility.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Marty Brown, Secretary of Senate; Deborah Norwood, State Law Library.