6571 AMH .... H4833.1

SB 6571 - H AMD 0482 ADOPTED 3-8-02

By Representative

    On page 2, line 4, after "context" insert ", including which specific government services or programs will be impacted"

SB 6571 - H AMD

By Representative

    On page 3, after line 8, insert the following:

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 29.79 RCW to read as follows:

    If a fiscal impact statement identifies a combined financial impact of at least twenty-five million dollars on state and local governments, the office of financial management shall prepare a notice of probable fiscal impacts to be placed on the ballot beneath the ballot title.  The office of financial management shall prepare a notice of probable fiscal impacts in consultation with the secretary of state, the attorney general, and any other appropriate state or local agencies.

    The notice of probable impacts must be no more than fifty words in length, and written in clear and concise language, avoiding legal and technical terms when possible.  Where appropriate, the notice of probable impacts may include both estimated dollar amounts and a description placing the estimated dollar amounts into context, including which specific government services or programs will be impacted.

    The notice of probable impacts must appear on all ballots directly beneath the ballot title.  Above the notice must be a heading in capital letters, stating "NOTICE OF PROBABLE FISCAL IMPACTS OF BALLOT MEASURE."

    Sec. 4.  RCW 29.30.081 and 1990 c 59 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) On the top of each ballot there shall be printed instructions directing the voters how to mark the ballot, including write-in votes.  After the instructions and before the offices shall be placed the questions of adopting constitutional amendments or any other state measure authorized by law to be submitted to the voters at that election.  If a state measure has a combined fiscal impact of at least twenty-five million dollars on state and local governments, a fifty word notice of probable fiscal impacts prepared by the office of financial management under section 3 of this act must be placed on the ballot beneath the ballot title.

    (2) The candidate or candidates of the major political party which received the highest number of votes from the electors of this state for the office of president of the United States at the last presidential election shall appear first following the appropriate office heading, the candidate or candidates of the other major political parties shall follow according to the votes cast for their nominees for president at the last presidential election, and independent candidates and the candidate or candidates of all other parties shall follow in the order of their qualification with the secretary of state.

    (3) The names of candidates for president and vice-president for each political party shall be grouped together with a single response position for a voter to indicate his or her choice.

    (4) All paper ballots and ballot cards shall be sequentially numbered in such a way to permit removal of such numbers without leaving any identifying marks on the ballot.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately."

    Correct the title.

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