SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5752

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.

Background: Fiscal note estimates of the fiscal impact of proposed legislation are prepared by the executive branch for use during the legislative process. For legislation that has a fiscal impact on state agencies, fiscal notes are prepared under a process coordinated by the Office of Financial Management (OFM). Pursuant to instructions issued by OFM, affected agencies estimate the bill's impacts on state revenues and expenditures and work with OFM to produce the fiscal note. For legislation that affects counties, cities, and other units of local government, the Department of Commerce produces local government fiscal notes, which are also subject to coordination by OFM.

Several states, including Iowa, Connecticut, and Oregon, have established procedures for the provision of racial impact statements, which provide a statistical analysis of the projected impact of proposed legislation on racial or ethnic minority populations. The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission also produces racial impact statements on proposed legislation, although it is not required to by statute.

Summary of Bill: The Caseload Forecast Council (CFC) must establish a procedure for producing racial impact statements on the effect proposed legislation will have on racial and ethnic minorities, including how legislation will impact the racial and ethnic composition of the criminal and juvenile justice systems. Racial impact statements must be available at the request of any legislator. The lack of a racial impact statement does not affect the validity of any measure passed by both houses of the Legislature.

The CFC must work in cooperation with appropriate legislative committees, OFM, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Social and Health Services, the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Minority and Justice Commission, the Washington State Institute for Public Policy, and the Sentencing Guidelines Commission in developing a procedure for provision of racial impact statements.