RCW 29A.72.025
Fiscal impact statements.
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. The secretary of state shall notify the office of financial management and the attorney general when the sponsor of a ballot measure has made an appointment to submit petitions to the secretary of state for filing. The office of financial management and appropriate state agencies may begin work on a fiscal impact statement prior to the submission of petitions. 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 July 23rd if a public investment impact disclosure is required under RCW 29A.72.027, and no later than July 31st for all other measures. 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 website and included in the state voters' pamphlet. Additional information may be posted on the website of the office of financial management.
[ 2022 c 114 § 5; 2009 c 415 § 7; 2004 c 266 § 4. Prior: 2002 c 139 § 1. Formerly RCW 29.79.075.]
NOTES:
Findings—2022 c 114: See note following RCW 29A.72.027.
Effective date—2004 c 266: See note following RCW 29A.04.575.
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 29A.72 - State Initiative and Referendum.
29A.72.010 - Filing proposed measures with secretary of state.
29A.72.020 - Review of proposed initiatives—Certificate required.
29A.72.025 - Fiscal impact statements.
29A.72.027 - Public investment impact disclosures.
29A.72.028 - Public investment impact disclosures—Appeal to superior court.
29A.72.030 - Time for filing various types.
29A.72.040 - Numbering—Transmittal to attorney general.
29A.72.050 - Ballot title—Formulation, ballot display.
29A.72.060 - Ballot title and summary by attorney general.
29A.72.070 - Ballot title and summary—Notice.
29A.72.080 - Ballot title and summary—Appeal to superior court.
29A.72.100 - Petitions—Paper—Size—Contents.
29A.72.110 - Petitions to legislature—Form.
29A.72.120 - Petitions to people—Form.
29A.72.130 - Referendum petitions—Form.
29A.72.140 - Warning statement—Further requirements.
29A.72.150 - Petitions—Signatures—Number necessary.
29A.72.160 - Petitions—Time for filing.
29A.72.170 - Petitions—Acceptance or rejection by secretary of state.
29A.72.180 - Petitions—Review of refusal to file.
29A.72.190 - Petitions—Appellate review.
29A.72.200 - Petitions—Destruction on final refusal.
29A.72.210 - Petitions—Consolidation into volumes.
29A.72.240 - Count of signatures—Review.
29A.72.250 - Initiatives and referenda to the people—Certificates of sufficiency.
29A.72.260 - Rejected initiatives to legislature.
29A.72.270 - Alternatives to initiatives to the legislature.
29A.72.280 - Concise description for alternative to initiative to the legislature.
29A.72.283 - Advisory vote on tax legislation—Short description.
29A.72.285 - Advisory vote on tax legislation—Short description filing and transmittal.
29A.72.290 - Printing ballot titles and short descriptions on ballots—Separate headings.