BILL REQ. #:  S-1762.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/23/05.   

     AN ACT Relating to voters' pamphlets; and amending RCW 29A.32.010 and 29A.32.060.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 29A.32.010 and 2003 c 111 s 801 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The secretary of state shall, whenever at least one statewide measure or office is scheduled to appear on the primary or general election ballot, print and distribute a voters' pamphlet.
     (2) The costs of printing and distributing a voters' pamphlet may be defrayed by the sale of advertisements in the voters' pamphlet. The secretary of state may, in his or her sole discretion, accept advertising that does not: (a) Advocate for or oppose any political or religious subject, issue, or candidate; (b) disparage or promote any person or class of persons; (c) promote businesses whose products, services, or advertisements are not suitable for readers or viewers of all ages; (d) promote or incite illegal conduct; (e) promote the use or availability of alcohol or tobacco products; (f) promote the use or availability of illegal drugs; (g) promote the use or availability of adult or sexually oriented entertainment or materials; (h) make claims of efficacy, suitability, desirability, or other nonobjective statements about businesses, products, or services; (i) include content that infringes on any trademark, copyright, or patent right of another; (j) make claims or representations in violation of advertising or consumer protection laws; or (k) contain content that a reasonable citizen may consider inappropriate to the maintenance of dignity and decorum for government. The secretary of state's acceptance of any advertising does not imply the conversion of, or convert, the voters' pamphlet into a public forum.
     (3) The secretary of state shall distribute the voters' pamphlet to each household in the state, to public libraries, and to any other locations he or she deems appropriate. The secretary of state shall also produce taped or Braille transcripts of the voters' pamphlet, publicize their availability, and mail without charge a copy to any person who requests one.
     (4) The secretary of state may make the material required to be distributed by this chapter available to the public in electronic form. The secretary of state may provide the material in electronic form to computer bulletin boards, print and broadcast news media, community computer networks, and similar services at the cost of reproduction or transmission of the data.

Sec. 2   RCW 29A.32.060 and 2003 c 111 s 806 are each amended to read as follows:
     Committees shall write and submit arguments advocating the approval or rejection of each statewide ballot issue and rebuttals of those arguments. The secretary of state, the presiding officer of the senate, and the presiding officer of the house of representatives shall appoint ((the)) at least one but not more than two initial ((two)) members of each committee. In making these committee appointments the secretary of state and presiding officers of the senate and house of representatives shall consider legislators, sponsors of initiatives and referendums, and other interested groups known to advocate or oppose the ballot measure.
     The initial ((two)) member or members may select ((up to four)) additional members, and the committee shall elect a chairperson. A committee may have up to six members. The remaining committee member or members may fill vacancies through appointment.
     After the committee submits its initial argument statements to the secretary of state, the secretary of state shall transmit the statements to the opposite committee. The opposite committee may then prepare rebuttal arguments. Rebuttals may not interject new points.
     The voters' pamphlet may contain only argument statements prepared according to this section. Arguments may contain graphs and charts supported by factual statistical data and pictures or other illustrations. Cartoons or caricatures are not permitted.