SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1253

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Law & Justice, February 25, 1998

Title:  An act relating to business organizations.

Brief Description:  Regulating naming of businesses.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Government Administration (originally sponsored by Representatives Parlette, Costa, Sheahan, Sterk, Lantz, Skinner, Sherstad, Lambert, Gardner, D. Schmidt, Kenney and Wensman; by request of Secretary of State).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Law & Justice:  2/23/98, 2/25/98 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Roach, Chair; Johnson, Vice Chair; Fairley, Hargrove, Kline, Long, Thibaudeau and Zarelli.

Staff:  Harry Steinmetz (786-7421)

Background:  The registration of business names with the office of the Secretary of State prevents a new business from filing under the same or deceptively similar name as a business which is already registered and conducting business in Washington State.

Summary of Bill:  Application of the naming requirements of the Corporations Act, Nonprofit Act, Partnership Act, and Limited Liability Company Act is clarified by the standardization of the requirements found in each of the acts.  Previous changes made to the limited liability company statute are incorporated.  Limited liability partnerships are recognized and the reserved names of such entities are protected from use by other entities.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  No one.