SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6356

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.

As of February 3, 2014

Title: An act relating to naming the chair and vice chair of state and county political committees.

Brief Description: Naming the chair and vice chair of state and county political committees.

Sponsors: Senator Angel.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Governmental Operations: 2/03/14.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

Staff: Samuel Brown (786-7470)

Background: There are several regulations on the activities and structure of the state and county central committees of major political parties. A major political party is a party whose nominees for president and vice president received at least 5 percent of the votes at the last election.

State committees consist of one committeeman and one committeewoman from each county elected by the county central committee, and must elect a chair and vice chair of opposite sexes. State committees must meet during January of each odd-numbered year for organizational purposes. State committees may:

County central committees must hold an organizational meeting no later than the second Saturday in January each odd-numbered year for the purposes of electing a chair and vice chair. The chair and vice chair must be of opposite sexes.

Summary of Bill: The bill as referred to committee not considered.

Summary of Bill (Proposed Substitute): The chair and vice chair of the state major political party committee and each county major political party central committee are not required to be of opposite sexes.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Times have changed, and this would make everything gender-neutral. It allows the choice of that jurisdiction for those positions. In some cases, people want to run for these positions but cannot, and often the parties cannot find a person of the other gender for those positions. If we do not impose these quotas for elected officials, we certainly do not need them for political parties. The substitute is a vast improvement over current law, which imposes an archaic and problematic restraint.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Angel, prime sponsor; Tom Jamieson, King County Republican Party.