5267-S.E AMH VAND REIL 071

ESSB 5267 - H AMD 485

By Representative Van De Wege

ADOPTED 04/15/2015

    Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature has a longstanding commitment to civic engagement and public participation in the legislative process and honors its commitment in numerous ways.  To provide information about the legislative process and pending legislation, the legislature supports a robust web site and operates a vital information center.  To facilitate communication between the public and legislators, the legislature offers a toll-free hotline and an e-comment system that allow the public to provide written statements and other commentary on pending legislation. 

    The senate intends to further this commitment through a two-year pilot project to expand the e-comment system to allow the public to provide commentary on pending legislation through prerecorded videos.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  The senate shall modify the e-comment system to allow the public to provide commentary on pending legislation to the members of the senate through prerecorded videos and written statements. The senate may set up parameters for submission of prerecorded videos and written statements by the public. The senate may establish procedures for timely distribution of prerecorded videos and written statements to members of the senate, as well as restrictions on distribution of prerecorded videos and written statements containing inappropriate content.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  This act may be known and cited as the "accessible legislative commentary act."

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  This act expires June 30, 2017."

Correct the title.

EFFECT:  Strikes the underlying bill.  States the Legislature's commitment to civic engagement and public participation in the legislative process.  Establishes a two-year pilot project in the Senate to expand the e-comment system to allow the public to provide commentary on pending legislation through prerecorded videos.

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