H-0209.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1113

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

By Representatives Campbell, Hargrove, Smith, Chappell, D. Schmidt, Schoesler and Ballasiotes

Read first time 01/13/95.  Referred to Committee on Government Operations.

Revising time limits for filing initiatives petitions.

    AN ACT Relating to filing initiative petitions; and amending RCW 29.79.020.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 29.79.020 and 1987 c 161 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

Petitions for an initiative measure((s)) proposed to be submitted to the people must be filed with the secretary of state within ((ten)) twelve months ((prior to the election at which they are to be submitted, and the petitions therefor must be)) of the date the measure is filed with the secretary of state.  The petitions must also be filed with the secretary of state not less than four months before the ((next)) general state-wide election at which the measure is to be voted upon.

Petitions for an initiative measure((s)) proposed to be submitted to the legislature must be filed with the secretary of state within ((ten)) twelve months ((prior to the next regular session of the legislature at which they are to be submitted and the petitions therefor)) of the date the measure is filed with the secretary of state.  The petitions must also be filed with the secretary of state not less than ten days before ((such)) the regular session of the legislature to which the measure is to be submitted.

    A petition ordering that any act or part thereof passed by the legislature be referred to the people must be filed with the secretary of state within ninety days after the final adjournment of the legislative session at which the act was passed.  It may be submitted at the next general state-wide election or at a special election ordered by the legislature.

    ((A proposed initiative or referendum measure may be filed no earlier than the opening of the secretary of state's office for business pursuant to RCW 42.04.060 on the first day filings are permitted, and any)) An initiative or referendum petition must be filed not later than the close of business on the last business day in the specified period for submission of signatures.  If a filing deadline falls on a Saturday, the office of the secretary of state shall be open on that Saturday for the transaction of business under this section from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on that Saturday.

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