SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5696

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

          State & Local Government, February 22, 1999

Title:  An act relating to election costs.

Brief Description:  Extending state responsibility for election costs.

Sponsors:  Senators McCaslin, Gardner, Deccio, Spanel and Haugen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  2/17/99, 2/22/99 [DP-WM].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

  Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Haugen, Horn, Kline and McCaslin.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786-7405)

Background:  Whenever state officers or measures are voted upon at a state primary or general election held in an odd numbered year, the state of Washington must assume a prorated share of the election costs of that state primary or general election.  The state does not assume these costs in an even numbered year.

Summary of Bill:  The state of Washington must assume its prorated costs of a state primary or general election in even as well as odd numbered years.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 9, 1999.

Effective Date:  January 1, 2002.

Testimony For:  This is an equity issue.  It is not fair that counties have to pay for the state=s share of election costs in the even-numbered years.  The state should pay its share of costs just as it does in the odd-numbered years.  The Secretary of State has lowered the state elections= costs over the years so this should not be burdensome for the state to assume these costs.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Bob Terwilliger, Suzanne Sinclair, County Auditors Assn.; Jim Potts, Rural Counties; Bill Vogler, WSAC.