BILL REQ. #:  S-0134.1 

Read first time 01/18/13.   Referred to Committee on Governmental Operations .

     BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:
     THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state the secretary of state must submit to the qualified voters of the state for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to Article II of the Constitution of the state of Washington by adding a new section to read as follows:

     Article II, section . . .. (1) Any action or combination of actions by the legislature that raises taxes may be taken only if approved by at least a two-thirds vote of both the house of representatives and the senate. Pursuant to the referendum power set forth in Article II, section 1(b) of this Constitution, tax increases may be referred to the voters for their approval or rejection at an election. For the purposes of this subsection, "raises taxes" means any action or combination of actions by the state legislature that increases state tax revenue deposited in any fund, budget, or account, regardless of whether the revenues are deposited into the general fund.
     (2)(a) Unless provided otherwise in this subsection, a fee may only be imposed or increased in any fiscal year if it is legislatively approved with at least a simple majority vote in both the house of representatives and the senate.
     (b) The requirement in (a) of this subsection does not apply to an assessment made by: (i) An agricultural commodity commission; (ii) a board created by state statute or created under a marketing agreement or order under chapter 15.65 or 15.66 RCW; or (iii) the forest products commission, if such assessment is approved by referendum in accordance with the provisions of the statutes creating the commission or board or in accordance with chapter 15.65 or 15.66 RCW.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state must cause notice of this constitutional amendment to be published at least four times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every legal newspaper in the state.