HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 1218

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Passed House:

February 28, 2011

Title: An act relating to making technical corrections to the Revised Code of Washington.

Brief Description: Making technical corrections to the Revised Code of Washington.

Sponsors: House Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives Goodman and Rodne; by request of Statute Law Committee).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Judiciary: 1/24/11, 1/27/11 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/28/11, 94-0.

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

  • Makes technical corrections to various provisions of the Revised Code of Washington.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Pedersen, Chair; Goodman, Vice Chair; Rodne, Ranking Minority Member; Shea, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Eddy, Frockt, Kirby, Klippert, Nealey, Orwall, Rivers and Roberts.

Staff: Edie Adams (786-7180).

Background:

Technical errors and inaccuracies may develop in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) for a variety of reasons. Many of these errors are the result of successive amendments to the same section of law over several years. Others are the result of simple drafting errors or failure to find and amend every statute that contains a reference to another statute that has been repealed or amended in a way that makes the reference incorrect.

The Office of the Code Reviser, under the direction of the Statute Law Committee, is authorized to correct certain "manifest errors" in the statutes. These errors may include such things as mistakes in spelling, or obvious clerical or typographical errors. The Code Reviser is also authorized to recommend to the Legislature changes regarding deficiencies, conflicts, obsolescence, and the need for reorganization in the statutes.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

Technical corrections are made to various provisions of the RCW. The technical corrections include changes to merge double amendments and to correct inaccurate references and cross-references resulting from amendments, drafting errors, or repealers. In addition, changes are made to address drafting errors relating to the effect of expiration dates in amendatory sections.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill deals with purely technical corrections to the RCW. This type of bill is introduced every few years to correct inaccuracies in the code. Often these inaccuracies are discovered in the process of publishing the RCW or from practitioners who inform us of mistakes that should be corrected. The technical corrections in this bill address double amendments, inaccurate references, and other deficiencies.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Goodman, prime sponsor; and Kyle Thiessen, Statute Law Committee.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.