Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee |
HB 2615
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Modifying the filing fee provision for initiatives and referenda.
Sponsors: Representatives Hunt, Chase, Carlyle, Liias, Flannigan and Williams.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/28/10
Staff: Tracey O'Brien (786-7196).
Background:
Initiative and Referendum in Washington.The Legislature adopted processes for initiative and referendum in 1912. The law as enacted allows:
Initiatives to the People, where if petitions are certified to have a sufficient number of signatures by registered voters, the issue is submitted for a vote of the people at the next state general election;
Initiatives to the Legislature, where if petitions are certified to have a sufficient number of signatures by registered voters, the issue is submitted to the Legislature at its next regular session;
Referendum Measures, where laws recently passed by the Legislature are placed on the ballot after certification of petitions signed by registered voters; and
Referendum Bills, where voters adopt laws proposed by the Legislature.
Any legal voter of the state, either individually or on behalf of an organization, may petition the Legislature to enact a proposed measure, submit a proposed initiative measure to the people or order a referendum of all or part of any, act, bill, or law passed by the Legislature. The sponsor shall file with the Secretary of State (SOS) a legible copy of the measure proposed, or in the case of a referendum the act or part of an act on which the referendum is desired. This must be accompanied by a filing fee and an affidavit that the sponsor is a legal voter. The current filing fee, adopted by the SOS by rule, is $5.00.
Under the state Constitution, initiative petitions require signatures from 8 percent of the total number of votes cast for the Office of Governor at the last regular gubernatorial election; referendum petitions require 4 percent.
Summary of Bill:
The filing fee is increased to $250 per proposed measure. If the sponsor submits the required number of signatures for the measure to appear on the ballot, the sponsor shall be refunded $200.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.