HB 1981 — Estimating the effective tax rate of proposed ballot measures and legislation.

H-2021.1SUBSTITUTEH-1111.2HOUSE HOUSE BILL 1981State of Washington65th Legislature2017 Regular SessionBy House State Government, Elections & Information Technology (originally sponsored by Representatives Farrell, Ormsby, Slatter, Pollet, and Jinkins)READJinkinsRead FIRSTfirst TIMEtime 02/17/17.AN02/06/17. ACT Relating to estimating the effective tax rate of proposed ballot measures and legislation;

amendingReferred RCWto 29A.32.070Committee on State Govt, Elections & IT.AN ACT Relating to estimating the effective tax rate of proposed ballot measures and 29A.72.025;legislation;

amending RCW 29A.32.070;

and(d) A summary of the ballot measure not to exceed two hundred words and a more detailed disclosure that includes the assumptions that were made to estimate the effective rate of taxes, and any unavoidable limitations on the availability of data for a comprehensive analysis.(3) Revenue equity statements must be written in clear and concise language, avoid legal and technical terms when possible, and be filed with the secretary of state no later than the lasttenth business day inof JulyAugust for a ballot measure to the people, or no later than the first day of the legislative session for which an initiative to the legislature has been submitted.

and(d) A summary of the bill not to exceed two hundred words and a more detailed disclosure that includes the assumptions that were made to estimate the effective rate of taxes, and any unavoidable limitations on the availability of data for a comprehensive analysis.(3) For the purposes of this section "effective tax rate" includes fees that apply broadly to the majority of Washington residents as well as revenue measures that are identified as taxes.Sec. 4.  RCWtaxes.--- 29A.72.025END and--- 2009 c 415 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:The office of financial management, in consultation with the secretary of state, the attorney general, and any other appropriate state or local agency, shall prepare a fiscal impact statement for each of the following state ballot measures:

(1) An initiative to the people that is certified to the ballot;

(2) an initiative to the legislature that will appear on the ballot;

(3) an alternative measure appearing on the ballot that the legislature proposes to an initiative to the legislature;

(4) a referendum bill referred to voters by the legislature;

and (5) a referendum measure appearing on the ballot.

Fiscal impact statements must be written in clear and concise language, avoid legal and technical terms when possible, and be filed with the secretary of state no later than the ((tenth day of August)) last business day of July.

Fiscal impact statements may include easily understood graphics.A fiscal impact statement must describe any projected increase or decrease in revenues, costs, expenditures, or indebtedness that the state or local governments will experience if the ballot measure were approved by state voters.

Where appropriate, a fiscal impact statement may include both estimated dollar amounts and a description placing the estimated dollar amounts into context.

A fiscal impact statement must include both a summary of not to exceed one hundred words and a more detailed statement that includes the assumptions that were made to develop the fiscal impacts.Fiscal impact statements must be available online from the secretary of state's web site and included in the state voters' pamphlet.

Additional information may be posted on the web site of the office of financial management.--- END ---