Brief Description: Removing gender references.

Sponsors: Senators Kohl-Welles, Fairley, Rockefeller, Kline, Schoesler, Keiser, Parlette, Kauffman, Fraser and Shin.

Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development
House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs

Background: Since 1983, state law requires that all statutes be written in gender-neutral terms, unless a specification of gender is intended.

Summary: Gender-specific terms are changed to be gender neutral in several chapters of the RCW. For example, reference to "firemen" is changed to "firefighters"; "policemen" is changed to "police officers"; and "materialmen" is changed to "material supplier."

The Code Reviser, in consultation with the Statute Law Committee, must develop and implement a plan to correct gender-specific references in the code, making annual recommendations to the Legislature, with completion by June 30, 2015.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      41   1
House      78   20   (House amended)
Senate      45   1   (Senate concurred)

Effective:   July 22, 2007