SHB 2612 -
By Representative Taylor
Beginning on page 4, line 35 of the amendment, after "(1)" strike
all material through "lines" on page 5, line 3 and insert "Upon a
finding of a violation of section 3 of this act, the court shall notify
the highest ranking elected official of the government subdivision
subject to the lawsuit directing the appointment of a redistricting
commission to redraw the lines of the district in question with
direction regarding the legal error that needs to be corrected through
the redistricting process. A five member commission must be appointed
as follows:
(a) Within ten days' notice by the elected official, each leader of
the two largest political parties in the county shall appoint one
registered voter who resides within the challenged district and one
registered voter who resides outside the challenged district to serve
as voting members of the commission.
(b) The four appointed members, by an affirmative vote of at least
three, shall appoint a nonvoting fifth member who shall act as the
commission's chairperson. If the voting members fail to elect a
chairperson within five days, the court shall appoint a nonvoting fifth
member to act as chairperson. A vacancy on the commission shall be
filled by the same party who made the original appointment within ten
days after the vacancy occurs.
(c) Persons eligible to serve are subject to the provisions in RCW
44.05.050 and 44.05.060.
(d) The commission may employ the services of experts, consultants,
and support staff, including attorneys not employed by the attorney
general, as necessary to carry out its duties pursuant to this section.
(e) Within three months of convening, and after holding public
hearings, the commission must propose a redistricting plan. The plan
shall be submitted to the government entity with the authority to
change the configuration of the district. The plan must be scheduled
for public hearing and final adoption within thirty days. If no plan
is adopted, the plan reverts to the court and the court shall create a
district within thirty days.
(f) The commission is subject to the open public meetings act,
chapter 42.30 RCW, and the public records act, chapter 42.56 RCW.
(g) After the plan takes effect, any registered voter impacted by
the change in the district may file a petition with the supreme court
challenging the plan. The court may consolidate any or all petitions
and shall give such petitions precedence over all other matters"
On page 5, line 5 of the amendment, after "the" insert "redistricting commission or the"
On page 5, line 9 of the amendment, after "the" insert "redistricting commission or the"
On page 5, line 16 of the amendment, after "the" insert "redistricting commission or the"
EFFECT: Strikes the provision that authorized the court to tailor a remedy or direct the affected jurisdiction to draw or redraw boundaries or appoint an individual or panel to draw or redraw boundaries. Requires, instead, that the court direct the highest ranking elected official of the government subdivision to appoint a redistricting commission to redraw the district lines.