HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2033

As Reported by House Committee On:

Appropriations

Title: An act relating to reducing the costs and inefficiencies in elections by eliminating a requirement to include the full text of ballot measures in the printed version of voters' pamphlets.

Brief Description: Reducing the costs and inefficiencies in elections by eliminating a requirement to include the full text of ballot measures in the printed version of voters' pamphlets.

Sponsors: Representatives Hawkins, Hunter, Alexander, Bergquist, Hunt and Buys; by request of Secretary of State.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Appropriations: 4/22/13, 4/23/13 [DPS].

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 23 members: Representatives Hunter, Chair; Ormsby, Vice Chair; Alexander, Ranking Minority Member; Wilcox, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Buys, Carlyle, Cody, Dunshee, Green, Haigh, Haler, Hudgins, Hunt, Jinkins, Kagi, Maxwell, Morrell, Pedersen, Pettigrew, Pike, Seaquist, Springer and Sullivan.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 8 members: Representatives Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Dahlquist, Fagan, Harris, Parker, Ross, Schmick and Taylor.

Staff: Wendy Polzin (786-7137).

Background:

The Secretary of State (Secretary) is required to print and distribute a voters' pamphlet whenever at least one statewide measure or office is scheduled to appear on the general election ballot. Voters' pamphlets must be distributed to each household in the state, public libraries, and other locations deemed appropriate. The Secretary is also required to produce taped or Braille transcripts of the voters' pamphlet, publicize its availability, and mail copies upon request.

The following information must be included in the voters' pamphlet for each statewide issue:

• the legal identification of the measure;

• the official ballot title of the measure;

• a statement prepared by the Attorney General explaining the law as it presently exists;

• the fiscal impact statement of the measure;

• if the measure was passed by the Legislature, the total number of votes cast for and against the measure in the Senate and the House of Representatives;

• the argument advocating approval of the measure and a statement of rebuttal of the opposing argument;

• the argument advocating rejection of the measure and a statement of rebuttal of the opposing argument;

• the names of the committee members who submitted the arguments; and

• the full text of the measure.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

The Secretary of State may include the full text of a statewide measure in the voters' pamphlet or may provide information about how to view or obtain the full text of the measure.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

An additional section is amended to be consistent with the discretion granted in the underlying bill for the Secretary of State to choose to publish the full text of a ballot measure in the voters' pamphlet.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The Office of the Secretary of State (OSOS) is given the option to print the full text of a ballot measure or to direct individuals to where they can find the full text. This legislation provides flexibility to the OSOS. The legislation is important to support the budget as it passed the House of Representatives. Savings associated with the bill comes from not printing between 30 and 40 pages of text. The voters' pamphlet will still have all the important pieces of information included in it. Upon request, the OSOS will mail the full text of a ballot measure to anyone who requests it.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Hawkins, prime sponsor; and Kim Wyman, Secretary of State.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.