SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6721

BYSenators McDonald, Stratton, Sellar, McMullen, Hayner, Vognild, McCaslin, Hansen, Bailey, Cantu, West, Johnson, Barr and Nelson

Requiring eighty percent of signatures for initiatives to be from voters evenly distributed among the state's congressional districts.

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 31, 1990

Senate Staff:Rod McAulay (786-7754)

AS OF JANUARY 29, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Initiative petitions must be signed by voters equal in number to 8 percent of the votes cast for the Office of Governor at the last regular gubernatorial election.  There is no requirement with regard to the geographic distribution within the state of the persons signing the petition.

An amendment to the State Constitution has been proposed which requires that 80 percent of the minimum number of signatures required on an initiative be from voters evenly distributed among the state's congressional districts.  If the amendment is approved, existing statutes need to be amended to conform.

SUMMARY:

At least 80 percent of the minimum number of signatures required for an initiative shall be from voters evenly distributed among the state's congressional districts. 

This amendment shall take effect January 1, 1991, if the proposed amendment to Article II, section 1 of the State Constitution, requiring geographical distribution of initiative signers, is approved and ratified at the general election held in November 1990.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:   none

Fiscal Note:    none requested