HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1248

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                  Government Administration

Title:  An act relating to filing of business and nonprofit documents with the secretary of state.

Brief Description:  Allowing facsimile filings with the secretary of state's office.

Sponsors:  Representatives Sump, Costa, Sheahan, Sterk, Sherstad, Skinner, Lantz, Lambert, D. Schmidt, D. Sommers, Backlund, Ogden, Wensman and Constantine; by request of Secretary of State.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Government Administration:  1/28/97, 1/29/97 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives D. Schmidt, Chairman; D. Sommers, Vice Chairman; Scott, Ranking Minority Member; Gardner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Doumit; Dunn; Dunshee; Murray; Reams; Smith; L. Thomas; Wensman and Wolfe.

Staff:  Bronwyn Mauldin (786-7093).

Background:   Partnerships, corporations and nonprofits doing business in Washington must file various documents in the secretary of state=s office. 

The secretary of state currently accepts facsimile transmissions of several types of election related documents, including declarations and affidavits of candidacy, county canvass reports, and candidates= pamphlet statements.

Summary of Bill:  The secretary of state must accept and file facsimile transmissions of any documents required from businesses, including partnerships, for-profit corporations, and nonprofit corporations.  Documents submitted via facsimile transmission must satisfy legal requirements for form and content, including legibility, in order to be accepted.  If a document must be signed by a specified party, the signature on the facsimile transmission satisfies that requirement.  The secretary of state may reject a document if a fee required in conjunction with the document is not received before or at the time of receipt of the document.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This will streamline and expedite the filing process for businesses, nonprofits, and the secretary of state.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Sump, prime sponsor; and Ralph Munroe and Karen Dick, Office of the Secretary of State.