Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

State Government Committee

HB 2632

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.

Brief Description: Concerning gender requirements in the election of chair and vice chair positions for state committees of political parties.

Sponsors: Representatives Van Werven, S. Hunt, Moscoso, Dent, Wilson, Vick, Manweller, Muri, Scott and Magendanz.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Eliminates the requirement that the chair and vice chair of a major political party's state committee must be of the opposite sex.

Hearing Date: 1/27/16

Staff: Sean Flynn (786-7124).

Background:

A major political party (major party) is a party whose nominee received at least five percent of the total votes for the last presidential election. Each major party has a county central committee comprised of the officers from each voting precinct in the county. The county central committee elects one councilman and one councilwoman to represent the county on the major party's state committee.

The state committee may call a state convention, elect delegates to the party's national convention, and nominate presidential electors. The state committee must elect a chair and vice chair of opposite sex.

Summary of Bill:

A major political party is not required to have a chair and vice chair of opposite sexes.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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