SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5834

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

State & Local Government, February 26, 2001

Title:  An act relating to election certification and training.

Brief Description:  Strengthening training of elections administrators.

Sponsors:  Senators Hale, Haugen and Kohl‑Welles; by request of Secretary of State.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  2/21/01, 2/26/01 [DPS‑WM].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5834 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Gardner, Hale, Haugen, Horn, Kline, McCaslin, Roach, T. Sheldon and Swecker.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786‑7405)

Background:  A person having responsibility for the administration or conduct of elections must receive general training regarding the conduct of elections and specific training regarding their responsibilities and duties as prescribed by statute or by rules adopted by the Secretary of State.  The United States Supreme Court, in Bush v. Gore, directed that standards be adopted to ensure that a standard and uniform procedure be established for determining the validity of votes.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Legislature directs that the existing certification and training program established in the Office of Secretary of State be expanded to ensure that the mandate of the United States Supreme Court be implemented, that election administrators receive expanded training, that their testing and certification be continued, and that at least once every three years the Secretary of State reviews county election procedures.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute bill does not have an emergency clause.

Appropriation: $490,521 for fiscal year ending June 30, 2002.

            $474,356 for fiscal year ending June 30, 2003.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  We cannot afford not to have well‑trained election administrators.  We used to have more training but the Legislature eliminated the funding.  We also need to establish uniform procedures.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Suzanne Sinclair, Bob Bruce, County Auditors; Sam Reed, Secretary of State.