BILL REQ. #:  H-2596.1 

Read first time 06/03/13.   Referred to Committee on Appropriations.

     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; amending RCW 29A.32.070 and 29A.32.080; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   In an effort to reduce unfunded mandates on the secretary of state's office and allow efficiencies to be implemented, the legislature finds a potential cost savings and reduced impacts on the environment by removing the requirement that the complete text of initiatives be published in voters' pamphlets. The legislature expects the secretary of state to continue to post the complete text of a measure in the online voter's guide and to provide information in the voters' pamphlet about how a voter may view the text on the internet or request that a copy be electronically or physically mailed to the voter.

Sec. 2   RCW 29A.32.070 and 2009 c 415 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     The secretary of state shall determine the format and layout of the voters' pamphlet published under RCW 29A.32.010. The secretary of state shall print the pamphlet in clear, readable type on a size, quality, and weight of paper that in the judgment of the secretary of state best serves the voters. The pamphlet must contain a table of contents. Measures and arguments must be printed in the order specified by RCW 29A.72.290.
     The voters' pamphlet must provide the following information for each statewide issue on the ballot except measures for an advisory vote of the people whose requirements are provided in subsection (11) of this section:
     (1) The legal identification of the measure by serial designation or number;
     (2) The official ballot title of the measure;
     (3) A statement prepared by the attorney general explaining the law as it presently exists;
     (4) A statement prepared by the attorney general explaining the effect of the proposed measure if it becomes law;
     (5) The fiscal impact statement prepared under RCW 29A.72.025;
     (6) The total number of votes cast for and against the measure in the senate and house of representatives, if the measure has been passed by the legislature;
     (7) An argument advocating the voters' approval of the measure together with any statement in rebuttal of the opposing argument;
     (8) An argument advocating the voters' rejection of the measure together with any statement in rebuttal of the opposing argument;
     (9) Each argument or rebuttal statement must be followed by the names of the committee members who submitted them, and may be followed by a telephone number that citizens may call to obtain information on the ballot measure;
     (10) The full text of the measure, or the first two sections of the measure and information about how to view or obtain a copy of the full text of the measure;
     (11) Two pages shall be provided in the general election voters' pamphlet for each measure for an advisory vote of the people under RCW 43.135.041 and shall consist of the serial number assigned by the secretary of state under RCW 29A.72.040, the short description formulated by the attorney general under RCW 29A.72.283, the tax increase's most up-to-date ten-year cost projection, including a year-by-year breakdown, by the office of financial management under RCW 43.135.031, and the names of the legislators, and their contact information, and how they voted on the increase upon final passage so they can provide information to, and answer questions from, the public. For the purposes of this subsection, "names of legislators, and their contact information" includes each legislator's position (senator or representative), first name, last name, party affiliation (for example, Democrat or Republican), city or town they live in, office phone number, and office e-mail address.

Sec. 3   RCW 29A.32.080 and 2003 c 111 s 808 are each amended to read as follows:
     If statewide ballot measures that amend existing law ((must be)) are printed in the voters' pamphlet ((so that)), the language proposed for deletion ((is)) must be enclosed by double parentheses and ((has)) have a line through it((.)), and proposed new language must be underlined. A statement explaining the deletion and addition of language must appear as follows: "Any language in double parentheses with a line through it is existing state law and will be taken out of the law if this measure is approved by voters. Any underlined language does not appear in current state law but will be added to the law if this measure is approved by voters."