BILL REQ. #:  Z-1145.1 

Read first time 01/23/2004.   Referred to Committee on State Government.

     AN ACT Relating to fiscal impact statements on ballot measures; and amending RCW 29.79.075.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 29.79.075 and 2002 c 139 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     The office of financial management, in consultation with the secretary of state, the attorney general, the legislature, and any other appropriate state or local agency, shall prepare a fiscal impact statement for each of the following state ballot measures: (1) An initiative to the people that is certified to the ballot; (2) an initiative to the legislature that will appear on the ballot; (3) an alternative measure appearing on the ballot that the legislature proposes to an initiative to the legislature; (4) a referendum bill referred to voters by the legislature; and (5) a referendum measure appearing on the ballot. Fiscal impact statements must be written in clear and concise language and avoid legal and technical terms when possible, and may include easily understood graphics.
     A fiscal impact statement must describe any projected increase or decrease in revenues, costs, expenditures, or indebtedness that the state or local governments will experience if the ballot measure were approved by state voters. A fiscal impact statement may describe, to the extent feasible, any direct fiscal impact private industry or individuals will experience if the ballot measure were approved by state voters. Where appropriate, a fiscal impact statement may include both estimated dollar amounts and a description placing the estimated dollar amounts into context. A fiscal impact statement must include both a summary of not to exceed one hundred words and a more detailed statement that includes the assumptions that were made to develop the fiscal impacts.
     Fiscal impact statements must be available online from the secretary of state's web site and included in the state voters' pamphlet.