Brief Description: Reducing signatures required for an initiative to the legislature.

Sponsors: Representatives Romero, Haigh, Hunt, Upthegrove and McDermott.

Hearing Date: 2/4/03

Staff: Katie Blinn (786-7114).

Background:

Any legal voter may file with the Secretary of State (Secretary) an initiative to the people, an initiative to the Legislature, or a referendum. The authority for the people to legislate was established in 1911 in the State Constitution, Article II, section 1. The number of valid signatures necessary for an initiative to the people to qualify for the ballot is 8 percent of the votes cast for governor at the last gubernatorial election, and the signed petitions must be filed with the Secretary in early July, at least four months prior to the general election. The number of valid signatures necessary for an initiative to the Legislature is also 8 percent, and the signed petitions must be filed at least ten days before the start of the regular session. The number of signatures required for a referendum is 4 percent, and the petitions must be filed within 90 days of the end of session.

Once the text of an initiative is filed with the Secretary, it must be submitted to the Code Reviser for review of its form and style. The Code Reviser can recommend revisions or alterations, but such recommendations are advisory only and may be rejected by the sponsor. The Secretary then assigns the measure a serial number and the Attorney General writes a 75-word summary and the ballot title, which consists of a subject statement, a 30-word concise description, and a question. The ballot title becomes the title of the measure on all petitions, ballots and other material, and the summary appears after the ballot title on all petitions. Each petition must have lines for the signatures on one side, and the measure printed on the other side. When the person proposing the measure has enough signatures to exceed the 4 percent or 8 percent requirement, he or she files the petitions with the Secretary for certification. The Secretary must verify and canvass the names on the petitions. If an initiative to the people or a referendum is found sufficient, the Secretary certifies to the county auditors the serial number and ballot title to be voted on at the next general election.

If an initiative to the Legislature is found sufficient, the Legislature may approve it, reject it, refer it to the people, or offer an alternative. The Legislature cannot amend the initiative, so if the Legislature decides to approve it, the Legislature must do so in its original form. If the Legislature refers the initiative to the people or takes no action on it, the measure is submitted to the people at the next general election. If the Legislature proposes an alternative addressing the same subject, both measures are submitted to the people for a vote at the next general election. Whenever the Legislature proposes an alternative, the concise description of the alternative must indicate as clearly as possible the essential differences between the two measures.

Summary of Bill:

The minimum number of signatures necessary to qualify an initiative to the Legislature is lowered from 8 percent of the votes cast for governor at the last gubernatorial election to 6 percent.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not Requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on January 1, 2004 if the constitutional amendment to Article II, section 1 of the State Constitution is approved at the November general election.