HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2019-4621

HR 4621

ByRepresentatives Mead, Rude, Tarleton, Shea, Morgan, Corry, Ryu, Graham, Pollet, Volz, Shewmake, Boehnke, Ramos, Mosbrucker, Frame, Harris, Callan, Dufault, Lovick, Walsh, Wylie, Vick, Pellicciotti, Barkis, Chapman, Caldier, Reeves, Stokesbary, Valdez, Goehner, Paul, Kraft, Ortiz-Self, Chandler, Hansen, Hoff, Entenman, Eslick, Sells, Sutherland, Walen, Ybarra, Dye, McCaslin, Van Werven, Macri, Jenkin, Kilduff, Schmick, Thai, Dent, Morris, Klippert, Peterson, Orcutt, Lekanoff, Leavitt, Maycumber, and Sullivan

WHEREAS, The House of Representatives has a longstanding commitment to civic engagement and public participation in the legislative process, and honors its commitment in numerous ways; and

WHEREAS, To facilitate communication between the public and representatives, the House of Representatives uses a toll-free hotline and an e-comment system that allow the public to provide written statements and other commentary on pending legislation; and

WHEREAS, The House of Representatives seeks to increase public participation, understanding, and transparency of the legislative process; and

WHEREAS, The House of Representatives seeks to examine options for expanding the ways in which the public can participate in the legislative process, including the feasibility of a pilot remote testimony program;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That: (1) Committee hearing practices and remote testimony programs in selected legislative bodies be examined;

(2) Other means of citizen engagement in the legislative process be reviewed;

(3) Various sites and mobile options for remote testimony be assessed; and

(4) Technology for remote testimony in House of Representatives hearing rooms and technologies used by others for video and audio conferencing be evaluated; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That information on options and recommendations for a pilot remote testimony program during the 2020 legislative session, including estimated costs of resources for start-up and operation, be developed and submitted to the Executive Rules Committee by October 1, 2019.