Wash. Rev. Code § 44.05.010
Short title
This act may be cited as the Washington State Redistricting Act.
Revised Code of Washington Chapter 44.05 — Washington State Redistricting Act
Washington · statute · Wash. Rev. Code ch. 44.05 · 15 active provisions
Provisions
Wash. Rev. Code § 44.05.020
Definitions
The definitions set forth in this section apply throughout this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise.(1) "Chief election officer" means the secretary of state.(2) "Federal census" means the decennial census required by federal law to be prepared by the United States bureau of the census in each year ending in…
Wash. Rev. Code § 44.05.030
Redistricting commission—Membership—Chairperson—Vacancies
A redistricting commission shall be established in January of each year ending in one to accomplish state legislative and congressional redistricting. The five-member commission shall be appointed as follows:(1) Each legislative leader of the two largest political parties in each house of the legislature shall appoint…
Wash. Rev. Code § 44.05.040
Oath
Before serving on the commission every person shall take and subscribe an oath to faithfully perform the duties of that office. The oath shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state.
Wash. Rev. Code § 44.05.050
Members—Persons ineligible to serve
No person may serve on the commission who:(1) Is not a registered voter of the state at the time of selection; or(2) Is or has within one year prior to selection been a registered lobbyist; or(3) Is or has within two years prior to selection been an elected official or elected legislative district, county, or state par…
Wash. Rev. Code § 44.05.060
Members—Political activities prohibited
No member of the commission may:(1) Campaign for elective office while a member of the commission;(2) Actively participate in or contribute to any political campaign of any candidate for state or federal elective office while a member of the commission; or(3) Hold or campaign for a seat in the state house of representa…
Wash. Rev. Code § 44.05.070
Employment of personnel—Assistance of state officials—Witness expenses—Appropriations—Compensation
(1) The commission may employ the services of experts, consultants, and support staff, including attorneys not employed by the attorney general, as necessary to carry out its duties pursuant to this chapter.(2) The chief election officer, the treasurer, and the attorney general shall make available to the commission su…
Wash. Rev. Code § 44.05.080
Duties
In addition to other duties prescribed by law, the commission shall:(1) Adopt rules pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW, to carry out the provisions of Article II, section 43 of the state Constitution and of this chapter, which rules shall provide that three voting members of the commission…
Wash. Rev. Code § 44.05.090
Redistricting plan
In the redistricting plan:(1) Districts shall have a population as nearly equal as is practicable, excluding nonresident military personnel, based on the population reported in the federal decennial census as adjusted by RCW 44.05.140.(2) To the extent consistent with subsection (1) of this section the commission plan…
Wash. Rev. Code § 44.05.100
Submission of plan to legislature—Amendment—Effect—Adoption by supreme court, when
(1) Upon approval of a redistricting plan by three of the voting members of the commission, but not later than November 15th of the year ending in one, the commission shall submit the plan to the legislature.(2) After submission of the plan by the commission, the legislature shall have the next thirty days during any r…
Wash. Rev. Code § 44.05.110
Cessation of operations—Financial statement—Official record
(1) Following the period provided by RCW 44.05.100(1) for the commission's adoption of a plan, the commission shall take all necessary steps to conclude its business and cease operations. The commission shall prepare a financial statement disclosing all expenditures made by the commission. The official record shall con…
Wash. Rev. Code § 44.05.120
Reconvening of commission to modify plan
(1) If a commission has ceased to exist, the legislature may, upon an affirmative vote in each house of two-thirds of the members elected or appointed thereto, adopt legislation reconvening the commission for the purpose of modifying the redistricting plan.(2) RCW 44.05.050 governs the eligibility of persons to serve o…
Wash. Rev. Code § 44.05.130
Challenges to plan
After the plan takes effect as provided in RCW 44.05.100, any registered voter may file a petition with the supreme court challenging the plan. After a modification to the redistricting plan takes effect as provided in RCW 44.05.120, any registered voter may file a petition with the supreme court challenging the amende…
Wash. Rev. Code § 44.05.140
Residence of certain individuals—Last known place of residence
(1) After April 1st of each year ending in zero, and by July 1st of each year ending in zero, the department of corrections shall furnish to the redistricting commission the following information regarding the last known place of residence of each inmate incarcerated in a state adult correctional facility:(a) A unique…
Wash. Rev. Code § 44.05.900
Contingent effective date—1983 c 16
This act shall take effect if the proposed amendment to Article II of the state Constitution establishing a commission for state legislative and congressional redistricting is validly submitted to and is approved and ratified by the voters at a general election held in November, 1983. If the proposed amendment is not s…