BILL REQ. #:  S-3872.1 

Read first time 01/26/12.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to information disclosed on ballots and voters' pamphlets; amending RCW 29A.36.071 and 29A.32.241; and adding a new section to chapter 81.112 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 81.112 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Any proposition to be submitted to the voters shall address either the capital projects or the maintenance and operation expenses. The two topics shall not be combined in one proposition.
     (2) The proposition for capital projects shall state that the tax will cease upon redemption of the bonds for the capital project, which must not exceed twenty years.
     (3) The proposition for maintenance and operation expenses shall state that the tax is permanent.

Sec. 2   RCW 29A.36.071 and 2006 c 311 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Except as provided to the contrary in RCW 82.14.036, 82.46.021, or 82.80.090, the ballot title of any referendum filed on an enactment or portion of an enactment of a local government and any other question submitted to the voters of a local government consists of ((three)) four elements: (a) An identification of the enacting legislative body and a statement of the subject matter; (b) a concise description of the measure; ((and)) (c) the duration of the tax, if one is being proposed; and (d) a question. The ballot title must conform with the requirements and be displayed substantially as provided under RCW 29A.72.050, except that the concise description must not exceed seventy-five words; however, a concise description submitted on behalf of a proposed or existing regional transportation investment district may exceed seventy-five words. If the local governmental unit is a city or a town, the concise statement shall be prepared by the city or town attorney. If the local governmental unit is a county, the concise statement shall be prepared by the prosecuting attorney of the county. If the unit is a unit of local government other than a city, town, or county, the concise statement shall be prepared by the prosecuting attorney of the county within which the majority area of the unit is located.
     (2) A referendum measure on the enactment of a unit of local government shall be advertised in the manner provided for nominees for elective office.
     (3) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply if another provision of law specifies the ballot title for a specific type of ballot question or proposition.

Sec. 3   RCW 29A.32.241 and 2011 c 10 s 29 are each amended to read as follows:
     The local voters' pamphlet shall include but not be limited to the following:
     (1) Appearing on the cover, the words "official local voters' pamphlet," the name of the jurisdiction producing the pamphlet, and the date of the election or primary;
     (2) A list of jurisdictions that have measures or candidates in the pamphlet;
     (3) Information on how a person may register to vote and obtain a ballot;
     (4) The text of each measure accompanied by an explanatory statement prepared by the prosecuting attorney for any county measure or by the attorney for the jurisdiction submitting the measure if other than a county measure. All explanatory statements for city, town, or district measures not approved by the attorney for the jurisdiction submitting the measure shall be reviewed and approved by the county prosecuting attorney or city attorney, when applicable, before inclusion in the pamphlet. If the text of a measure references another document, the explanatory statement shall contain the referenced document in its entirety and may not make reference to any other documents;
     (5) The arguments for and against each measure submitted by committees selected pursuant to RCW 29A.32.280; and
     (6) For partisan primary elections, information on how to vote the applicable ballot format and an explanation that minor political party candidates and independent candidates will appear only on the general election ballot.