Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
State Government

HB 1231

Brief Description:  Clarifying where declarations of candidacy are filed.

Sponsors:  Representatives D. Schmidt, McMorris, Kessler, Lambert, G. Chandler, Pearson, Armstrong, Eickmeyer, Pennington, Clements and Sump.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Allows candidates for the Legislature from districts comprising more than a single county the option of filing their declarations of candidacy with their county auditors or the Secretary of State.

Hearing Date:  2/2/01

Staff:  Steve Lundin (786‑7127).

Background: 

Declarations of candidacy for the following offices are filed with the Secretary of State: (1) United States Senate; (2) United States House of Representatives; (3) statewide offices; (4) court of appeals, if voters from more than a single county vote for that office; (5) superior court, if voters from more than a single county vote for that office; and (6) Legislature, if voters from more than a single county vote for that office.

Declarations of candidacy for nonpartisan offices where voters from more than a single county vote for the office, other than a judicial office or a director of a joint school district, are filed with the county auditor of the county where the majority of the registered voters reside who are eligible to vote for these offices.

Declarations of candidacy for a director of a joint school district (one that is located in more than one county) are filed with the county auditor of the county designated for that school district by the state Board of Education as being the district belonging to that school district.

Declarations of candidacy for all other offices, including the Legislature where voters of only a single county are eligible to vote for that position, are filed with the county auditor of the county in which the particular local government or legislative district is located.

A filing fee must accompany a declaration of candidacy, unless the office is paid on a per diem or per meeting attended basis.  A candidate may file a nominating petition in lieu of the fee if the candidate lacks sufficient assets or income to pay the filing fee.  The nominating petition must be signed by a number of voters equal to the number of dollars of the filing fee for the particular office.  The Secretary of State transfers an equal portion of the filing fee to each county for a legislative or judicial office that includes territory from more than one county.

Summary of Bill: 

It is clarified where declarations of candidacy are filed.

A candidate for the Legislature from a district containing territory in more than one county has the option of filing a declaration of candidacy for that office with either the Secretary of State or the county auditor of the county in which the candidate resides.

Each county auditor with whom a declaration of candidacy for the Legislature is filed must notify the Secretary of State about this filing within one hour of the close of business on the day the declaration is filed.  A filing fee that is paid to a county auditor, along with a declaration of candidacy for the Legislature from a district containing territory in more than one county, is divided among counties in the same manner as if the filing fee were paid to the Secretary of State.

Rulemaking Authority:  No express authority.

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

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.