BILL REQ. #:  Z-0529.1 

Read first time 02/03/2005.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to requiring the state to assume a share of the costs of state primary and general elections; and amending RCW 29A.04.420 and 29A.04.430.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 29A.04.420 and 2003 c 111 s 147 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 ((29A.04.320)) 29A.04.321, the state of Washington shall assume a prorated share of the costs of that state primary or general election.
     (2) 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 29A.28 RCW, the state of Washington shall assume a prorated share of the costs of that primary or vacancy election.
     (3) The county auditor shall apportion the state's share of these expenses when prorating election costs under RCW 29A.04.410 and shall file such expense claims with the secretary of state.
     (4) 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.

Sec. 2   RCW 29A.04.430 and 2003 c 111 s 148 are each amended to read as follows:
     ((For any reimbursement of election costs under RCW 29A.04.420, the secretary of state shall pay interest at an annual rate equal to two percentage points in excess of the discount rate on ninety-day commercial paper in effect at the federal reserve bank in San Francisco on the fifteenth day of the month immediately preceding the payment for any period of time in excess of thirty days after the receipt of a properly executed and documented voucher for such expenses and the entry of an allotment from specifically appropriated funds for this purpose.)) The secretary of state shall promptly notify any county that submits an incomplete or inaccurate voucher for reimbursement under RCW 29A.04.420.