CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2527
Chapter 34, Laws of 2020
66TH LEGISLATURE
2020 REGULAR SESSION
UNITED STATES CENSUS--RIGHTS
EFFECTIVE DATE: March 18, 2020
Passed by the House March 7, 2020
  Yeas 68  Nays 29
LAURIE JINKINS

Speaker of the House of Representatives
Passed by the Senate March 3, 2020
  Yeas 29  Nays 20
CYRUS HABIB

President of the Senate
CERTIFICATE
I, Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2527 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.
BERNARD DEAN

Chief Clerk
Chief Clerk
Approved March 18, 2020 10:37 AM
FILED
March 18, 2020
JAY INSLEE

Governor of the State of Washington
Secretary of State
State of Washington

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2527

AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
Passed Legislature - 2020 Regular Session
State of Washington
66th Legislature
2020 Regular Session
ByHouse State Government & Tribal Relations (originally sponsored by Representatives Ramos, Kilduff, Gregerson, Valdez, Slatter, Ortiz-Self, Tarleton, Davis, Doglio, Callan, Ramel, Pollet, Hudgins, Ormsby, and Santos)
READ FIRST TIME 01/30/20.
AN ACT Relating to protecting the rights of Washingtonians during the United States census; adding a new section to chapter 43.62 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 9A.60 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 19.86 RCW; prescribing penalties; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 43.62 RCW to read as follows:
(1) It is the intent of the legislature to affirm that every Washingtonian has the right and obligation to participate in the federal decennial census freely and without fear of fraud, intimidation, or harm, and to inform the public of these rights.
(2) The legislature affirms the rights of Washingtonians to all of the following, to be known as the Washington census bill of rights and responsibilities:
(a) To participate in the federal decennial census free of threat or intimidation;
(b) To the confidentiality of the information provided in the census form, as provided by federal law;
(c) To respond to the census by means made available to the respondent, either by phone, by mail, online, or in person;
(d) To request language assistance in accordance with federal law; and
(e) To verify the identity of a census worker.
(3) The secretary of state shall translate the Washington census bill of rights and responsibilities into languages other than English, consistent with the federal voting rights act of 1965, 52 U.S.C. Sec. 10503.
(4) The office of financial management shall make the Washington census bill of rights and responsibilities available on its internet web site and available for inclusion on city and county census internet web sites and census questionnaire assistance center internet web sites.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 9A.60 RCW to read as follows:
(1) A person is guilty of impersonating a census taker if the person falsely represents that he or she is a census taker with the intent to:
(a) Interfere with the operation of the census;
(b) Obtain information; or
(c) Obtain consent to enter a private dwelling.
(2) Impersonating a census taker is a gross misdemeanor.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 19.86 RCW to read as follows:
Mailing materials with the intent to deceive a person into believing that the material is an official census communication, interfere with the operation of the census, or discourage a person from participating in the census constitutes an unfair or deceptive practice under this chapter.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.
Passed by the House March 7, 2020.
Passed by the Senate March 3, 2020.
Approved by the Governor March 18, 2020.
Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 18, 2020.
--- END ---