SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1806

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 Reported by Senate Committee On:

Government Operations & Security, March 19, 2015

Title: An act relating to correcting references to elections statutes.

Brief Description: Correcting references to elections statutes.

Sponsors: House Committee on State Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Van Werven, Bergquist, Holy, Appleton, Gregory and S. Hunt).

Brief History: Passed House: 3/03/15, 96-1.

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Security: 3/12/15, 3/19/15 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & SECURITY

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Roach, Chair; Pearson, Vice Chair; Liias, Ranking Minority Member; Dansel, Habib and McCoy.

Staff: Samuel Brown (786-7470)

Background: In 2003 election law in Title 29 RCW was reorganized and recodified into Title 29A RCW. However, cross-references to Title 29 RCW in other statutes were not corrected. In the ensuing years changes to the laws, such as adoption of two different primary systems and vote by mail, have resulted in many erroneous references to election laws.

Summary of Bill: Technical changes are made to correct cross-references to election laws and repealed policies.

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: This is a simple clean-up bill that updates statutes to reflect the top-two primary and remove references to poll-site voting. These are outdated and unwanted statutes.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Van Werven, prime sponsor.

Persons Signed in to Testify But Not Testifying:  No one.