FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5803

                           FULL VETO

                     As Passed Legislature

Brief Description:  Allowing electronic distribution of rules notices.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Finkbeiner and McCaslin; by request of Department of Revenue).

Senate Committee on Government Operations

House Committee on Government Administration

Background:  The Administrative Procedure Act (APA) permits agencies to allow public comment on proposed rules by means of telefacsimile (fax) when the agency has the necessary receiving equipment.  There are no provisions for communication by electronic mail or for agencies to transmit agency notices by either electronic mail or by fax.

Summary:  The definition of Amail or send@ is added to the APA.  This definition means regular mail, fax or electronic mail and applies to any notice relating to rule-making policy or interpretative statements.  Agencies that have the capacity to transmit electronically may ask persons entitled to receive agency notices whether they would like to receive them electronically.  If a person requests electronic distribution, distribution by electronic mail or fax may substitute for mailed copies.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 46 0

House     97 0 (House amended)

Senate    42 0 (Senate concurred)