PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Local government grant program.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 29A.04.450.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The federal government passed the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and made funding available to replace punch card voting and improve the administration of elections. No mechanism was outlined by the federal government as to how to distribute the funds other than a grant method. RCW 29A.04.450 was passed giving the Secretary of State authority to create a local government grant program.
The rules will accomplish the creation of a local government grant program and the distribution of funds to pay for the replacement of punch card voting and the improvement of election administration.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: Negotiated rule making.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Lori Guerrero, Office of the Secretary of State, P.O. Box 40220, Olympia, WA 98504-0220, lguerrero@secstate.wa.gov, (360) 902-4169.
January 14, 2005
Steve Excell
Assistant Secretary of State