BILL REQ. #:  S-0467.1 

Read first time 02/14/2003.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to assessment of the constitutionality of initiatives; amending RCW 29.81.250; and adding a new section to chapter 29.79 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 29.79 RCW to read as follows:
     Each initiative measure to be submitted to the people that is certified to the ballot must be reviewed by the state supreme court for the purpose of assessing the constitutionality of the measure. The court shall issue a summary statement, not to exceed one hundred words, of its assessment. This statement may not be considered to be in support of or in opposition to the measure.
     The assessment of constitutionality must be available online from the supreme court's web site and included in the state voters' pamphlet.

Sec. 2   RCW 29.81.250 and 2002 c 139 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     The secretary of state shall determine the format and layout of the voters' pamphlet. The secretary of state shall print the pamphlet in clear, readable type on a size, quality, and weight of paper that in the judgment of the secretary of state best serves the voters. The pamphlet must contain a table of contents. Federal and state offices must appear in the pamphlet in the same sequence as they appear on the ballot. Measures and arguments must be printed in the order specified by RCW 29.79.300.
     The voters' pamphlet must provide the following information for each statewide issue on the ballot:
     (1) The legal identification of the measure by serial designation or number;
     (2) The official ballot title of the measure;
     (3) A statement prepared by the attorney general explaining the law as it presently exists;
     (4) A statement prepared by the attorney general explaining the effect of the proposed measure if it becomes law;
     (5) The fiscal impact statement prepared under RCW 29.79.075;
     (6) The total number of votes cast for and against the measure in the senate and house of representatives, if the measure has been passed by the legislature;
     (7) For each initiative measure to be submitted to the people, the assessment of constitutionality prepared under section 1 of this act;
     (8) An argument advocating the voters' approval of the measure together with any statement in rebuttal of the opposing argument;
     (((8))) (9) An argument advocating the voters' rejection of the measure together with any statement in rebuttal of the opposing argument;
     (((9))) (10) Each argument or rebuttal statement must be followed by the names of the committee members who submitted them, and may be followed by a telephone number that citizens may call to obtain information on the ballot measure;
     (((10))) (11) The full text of each measure.