H-658                _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1140

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Valle, Silver, Anderson, May, Beck, Rector, Brekke and Wineberry

Read first time 1/18/89 and referred to Committee on State Government.

AN ACT Relating to public opinion polls; adding a new section to chapter 29.04 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 29.04 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) Publication or broadcast of public opinion polls directly related to current election issues and candidates shall be accompanied by disclosure of (a) sampling methodology, (b) description of the classes and categories of persons sampled, (c) the actual number of persons questioned, and (d) the questions included in the poll.

          (2) The secretary of state shall adopt rules that govern this section, including developing definitions for (a) public opinion polls, (b) current election issues, and (c) publication or broadcast.

          (3) Violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor, punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW.