HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2241

                       As Passed House

                      February 4, 1994

Title:  An act relating to correcting a double amendment related to freedom from discrimination.

Brief Description:  Correcting a double amendment related to freedom from discrimination.

Sponsors:  Representatives Appelwick and Padden; by request of Law Revision Commission.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Judiciary, January 26, 1994, DP;

  Passed House, February 4, 1994, 92-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 15 members:  Representatives Appelwick, Chair; Johanson, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Minority Member; Ballasiotes, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell; Chappell; Eide; Forner; J. Kohl; Long; Morris; H. Myers; Schmidt; Tate and Wineberry.

Staff:  Bill Perry (786-7123).

Background:  Sometimes separate bills in a legislative session amend the same section of existing law, each without incorporating the changes made by the other.  If two such bills become law, a so-called "double amendment" is created.

Sometimes the amendments may be administratively merged by the code reviser's office because the language changes in the two bills fit together without necessity of any further editing.  In other instances, some additional adjustment in language may be necessary to combine the two enactments, or it may be found that the policy substance of the two enactments are simply inconsistent.  One of the functions of the Law Revision Commission is to review double amendments for reconciliation.

In 1993, two bills amended RCW 49.60.030 dealing with freedom from discrimination.  HB 1476 made technical changes to the section and added a provision prohibiting discrimination in real estate against families with children.  SB 5474 made technical changes to the section and altered the description of violations of the discrimination law as being violations of the Consumer Protection Act.

The Law Revision Commission has recommended the merging of the double amendments to RCW 49.60.030.

Summary of Bill:  The 1993 double amendments to RCW 49.60.030 are merged.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The bill corrects a double amendment.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Professor Marjorie Rombauer, Washington Law Revision Commission (pro).