BILL REQ. #:  H-0269.1 

Read first time 02/04/2003.   Referred to Committee on State Government.

     AN ACT Relating to election costs; and amending RCW 29.13.047.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 29.13.047 and 1985 c 45 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Whenever state officers or measures are voted upon at a state primary or general election held in an odd-numbered year under RCW 29.13.010, the state of Washington shall assume a prorated share of the costs of that state primary or general election.
     (2) Whenever state officers or measures are voted upon at a state primary or general election held in an even-numbered year under RCW 29.13.010, the state of Washington shall assume a share of the costs of the primary or election according to the following schedule:
     (a) 2004, twenty-five percent;
     (b) 2006, fifty percent;
     (c) 2008, seventy-five percent; and
     (d) 2010 and thereafter, one hundred percent.
     (3) Whenever a primary or vacancy election is held to fill a vacancy in the position of United States senator or United States representative under chapter 29.68 RCW, the state of Washington shall assume a prorated share of the costs of that primary or vacancy election.
     (((3))) (4) The county auditor shall apportion the state's share of these expenses when prorating election costs under RCW 29.13.045 and shall file such expense claims with the secretary of state.
     (((4))) (5) The secretary of state shall include in his or her biennial budget requests sufficient funds to carry out this section. Reimbursements for election costs shall be from appropriations specifically provided by law for that purpose.