BILL REQ. #:  H-4764.1 

Read first time 01/31/2006.   Referred to Committee on State Government Operations & Accountability.

     AN ACT Relating to creating a task force to study voting rights and restrictions of felons; creating new sections; and providing expirations dates.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds that:
     (a) The system for determining how, when, and where former felons have their right to vote restored is contributing to uncertainty about the validity of the election process, and local county clerks and auditors find it impossible to access clear information about this determination;
     (b) Washington currently denies the right to vote to all persons who have been convicted of an infamous crime and who have not fully completed all conditions of their sentence, including full payment of their legal financial obligations;
     (c) Responsibility for monitoring compliance with the various conditions of the sentence is placed at various times with the department of corrections, the county clerk, and the sentencing judge; and
     (d) The current system for determining when the right to vote has been restored takes away time from the other important duties of the county clerks, county auditors, and secretary of state's staff.
     (2) The legislature intends to study the issue of establishing a standard for restricting and restoring the voting rights of felons that will provide clear information about the status of former felon voting rights to all state and local election officials.
     (3) This section expires January 1, 2007.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) A legislative task force to study standards for restricting and restoring the voting rights of felons is established.
     (2) The task force members are as provided in this subsection:
     (a) The president of the senate shall appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate;
     (b) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives;
     (c) The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives jointly shall appoint members from each of the following groups:
     (i) One representative of county auditors;
     (ii) One member of the association of superior court judges;
     (iii) One defense attorney jointly designated by the Washington defender association and the Washington association of criminal defense lawyers;
     (iv) One prosecutor designated by the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys;
     (v) One representative from a business or organization that primarily serves multicultural or diversity interests;
     (vi) One victims' advocate designated by the Washington coalition of crime victims' advocates;
     (vii) One representative from a business or organization that represents the interests of low-income citizens;
     (viii) One representative of an organization with expertise and an interest in election reforms or voting rights issues;
     (ix) One representative of an organization that represents the interests of persons concerned with the effect of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome on multicultural communities; and
     (x) One representative of an organization that has expertise in civil liberties;
     (d) The secretary of state, or the secretary's designee; and
     (e) A representative of the department of corrections.
     (3) The task force shall choose its chair from among its legislative membership. The member appointed from the largest caucus of the house of representatives shall convene the initial meeting of the task force.
     (4) The task force must review the following issues:
     (a) The current system for determining how, when, and where former felons have their right to vote restored;
     (b) The agencies and entities that are responsible for monitoring compliance with the various conditions of a felon's sentence; how the monitoring is performed and communicated to other agencies; how the data is maintained and updated; and the fiscal impact of such monitoring; and
     (c) The need for establishing any changes and clearer standards as it relates to the current system of restricting and restoring felon voting rights and monitoring compliance with the conditions of a felon's sentence.
     (5) Staff support for the task force shall be provided by senate committee services and the house of representatives office of program research.
     (6) Legislative members of the task force shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative members, except those representing an employer or organization, are entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
     (7) The expenses of the task force shall be paid jointly by the senate and the house of representatives. Task force expenditures are subject to approval by the senate facilities and operations committee and the house of representatives executive rules committee, or their successor committees.
     (8) The task force, where appropriate, may consult with individuals from the public and private sector or ask such individuals to establish an advisory committee. Members of such an advisory committee are not entitled to reimbursement of expenses.
     (9) The task force must report its findings and recommendations to the appropriate committees of the legislature by October 30, 2006.
     (10) This section expires January 1, 2007.