Proposed Initiatives to the People - 1997

The following is a list of proposed initiatives to the People filed to date with the Office of the Secretary of State. To be certified, a petition must contain the signatures of at least 179,248 registered voters. The deadline for filing petition signatures for the following initiatives is 5:00 p.m. July 3, 1997. Questions regarding the content of initiatives should be directed to the sponsor(s).

NOTE

Initiative numbers are not assigned until the proposal has been reviewed by the state Code Reviser and the sponsor has submitted the final language of the proposed initiative. The content of initiatives is described as general "subject matter" pending the issuance of an official ballot title and summary by the state Attorney General.

Assigned Number: 673 Filed: 01/08/1997 Sponsors Mr. Stephen E. Wehrly Public Contact Information: 14010 SW Bates Road Vashon, WA 98070 Phone: (206) 463-2479	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would regulate health plans issued or renewed beginning July 1, 1998. Managed care provisions would be allowed only to ensure effective and efficient services. Persons changing plans could not be required to change health care providers. Certain plan information would be disclosed. Services could be provided by any health care provider whose scope of practice includes services covered by the plan, including physicians, pharmacists, psychologists, osteopaths, chiropractors, podiatrists, naturopaths, optometrists, and nurse practitioners. Status: A total of 241,548 signatures were submitted. The measure was found to have sufficient valid signatures, and was subsequently certified to the Nov. 4 (1997) General Election Ballot. It was rejected by the following vote: YES - 521,161 NO - 1,087,903 View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 674 Filed: 01/14/1997 Sponsors Mr. Jasper MacSlarrow Public Contact Information: 5209 NE 15th Avenue, #302 Seattle, WA 98105 Phone: (206) 528-6089	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would exempt public education spending from the provisions of Initiative 601. (Initiative 601 establishes a cap on state expenditures and imposes conditions on tax increases.) The term "public education" would include public schools from early childhood through high school, the state schools for the blind and for the deaf, all state-funded colleges and other institutions of higher education, and public libraries. The state expenditure limit would be recalculated to exclude public education expenditures. Status: No signatures submitted View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 675 Filed: 01/28/1997 Sponsors Mr. Donald Carter Public Contact Information: 8311 Thrulake Loop Olympia, WA 98513 Phone: (360) 456-8655	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would, beginning in 1998, assess property taxes on the basis of "adjusted value," which would be the lower of (1) current value, or (2) the property's 1992 assessed value increased by 2 percent for each subsequent year, plus the value of new construction. Property used as the owner's residence could not be taxed at more than 0.59 percent of adjusted value. Taxing districts would be limited to 2 percent annual increases in property tax collections. Status: No signatures submitted View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 676 Filed: 01/31/1997 Sponsors Mr. Thomas C. Wales Public Contact Information: 108 Hayes Street Seattle, WA 98109-2808 Phone: (206) 583-8113	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would make it unlawful to transfer a handgun without an operable trigger-locking device. A handgun safety license would be required to acquire or possess a handgun. A license would be issued only to persons who have completed instruction in safe operation, handling and storage of handguns. A person transferring a handgun would be required to verify that the recipient holds a handgun safety license. Certain exemptions exist for law enforcement and other purposes. Status: A total of 239,805 signatures were submitted. The measure was found to have sufficient valid signatures, and was subsequently certified to the Nov. 4 (1997) General Election Ballot. It was rejected by the following vote: YES - 496,690 NO - 1,194,004 View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 677 Filed: 02/11/1997 Sponsors Suzanne J. Thomas Public Contact Information: 800 5th Ave, Suite 4000 Seattle, WA 98104-3179 Phone: (206) 626-6000	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would prohibit employers, employment agencies, and labor organizations from discriminating based on sexual orientation in employment, employment agency, and union membership practices. It would not require benefits to an employee's partner or preferential treatment based on sexual orientation, and would allow workplace conduct rules applied in the same manner to all employees. Retaliation for opposing prohibited practices would be prohibited. Non-profit religious organizations and employers with fewer than eight employees would be exempt Status: A total of 229,793 signatures were submitted. The measure was found to have sufficient valid signatures, and was subsequently certified to the Nov. 4 (1997) General Election Ballot. It was rejected by the following vote: YES - 666,073 NO - 985,169 View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 678 Filed: 02/10/1997 Sponsors Anita R. Munson Public Contact Information: 3915 Connecticut St Bellingham , WA 98226 Phone: (206) 344-4130	Ballot Measure Summary Under current law, dental hygienists perform their services under the supervision of licensed dentists, with certain exceptions. This measure would create a dental hygiene quality assurance commission, consisting of three licensed dental hygienists and one public member, to license dental hygienists and regulate their profession. Licensed dental hygienists could obtain an enhanced practice endorsement allowing them to perform dental hygiene services (except nitrous oxide administration and the placing and carving of restorations) without dentist supervision. Status: A total of 272,764 signatures were submitted. The measure was found to have sufficient valid signatures, and was subsequently certified to the Nov. 4 (1997) General Election Ballot. It was rejected by the following vote: YES - 787,607 NO - 883,488 View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 679 Filed: 02/03/1997 Sponsors Mr. Winton G. Cannon Public Contact Information: 16443 SE 8th St Bellevue, WA 98008 Phone: (206) 746-2983	*Status: Incomplete (Refiled as I-681)** View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 680 Filed: 02/03/1997 Sponsors Mr. Winton G. Cannon Public Contact Information: 16443 SE 8th St Bellevue, WA 98008 Phone: (206) 746-2983	*Status: Incomplete (Refiled as I-682)** View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 681 Filed: 03/05/1997 Sponsors Mr. Winton G. Cannon Public Contact Information: 16443 SE 8th St Bellevue, WA 98008 Phone: (206) 746-2983	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would return property tax levies to their January 1, 1989 levels. Real property would be assessed at 80 percent of market value. Changes in tax rates, assessments, valuations, taxes, percentages, or criteria would require a 60 percent approval of the voters in a general election. Certain local governments would be required to submit tax proposals to the voters, and would require a 60 percent majority. The 106 percent levy limit would be repealed. Status: No signatures submitted View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 682 Filed: 03/05/1997 Sponsors Mr. Winton G. Cannon Public Contact Information: 16443 SE 8th St Bellevue, WA 98008 Phone: (206) 746-2983	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would enact a new license fee system for motor vehicles. Heavy motor vehicles and buses would be assessed by weight, starting at $110.00 for 8,000 pounds for a two-year license. Campers, trailers, and motor homes would be charged $54.00 for two years, increased for longer vehicles. The annual fee for cars and pick-ups would be $35.00, and $10.00 for snowmobiles and off-road vehicles. Current licensing fees and vehicle excise taxes would be repealed Status: No signatures submitted View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 683 Filed: 03/05/1997 Sponsors Mr. Robert K. Killian Public Contact Information: 2400 NW 80th #186 Seattle, WA 98117 Phone: (206) 781-6795	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would deny parole to anyone convicted of a violent crime committed under the influence of a controlled substance. Persons convicted of non-violent drug possession crimes would be paroled or placed on probation, subject to court discretion. Medical use of Schedule I controlled substances would be permitted. A drug education and prevention commission and a drug treatment and education fund would be created. Six million dollars per year would be transferred to this fund. Status: No signatures submitted (Note: Refiled as I-685) View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 684 Filed: 03/19/1997 Sponsors Mr. Stanley R. Reed Public Contact Information: 264 E. Mounts Rd Oak Harbor, WA 98277 Phone: (360) 675-9295	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would increase the retail sales tax by one-half of one percent. The revenue from the increase would be placed in a fish and wildlife recreation and enforcement account. Money in the account could be appropriated only for: aid for projects beneficial to fish and wildlife; education on fish and wildlife benefits; feeding wildlife; purchase of habitat; building and operating pheasant farms and fish hatcheries; wildlife viewing areas and access; and cleaning up streams. Status: No signatures submitted View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 685 Filed: 04/04/1997 Sponsors Mr. Robert K. Killian Public Contact Information: 2400 NW 80th #186 Seattle, WA 98117 Phone: (206) 781-6795	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would deny parole to anyone convicted of a violent crime committed under the influence of a controlled substance. Persons convicted of non-violent drug possession crimes would be paroled or placed on probation, subject to court discretion. Medical use of Schedule I controlled substances would be permitted. A drug education and prevention commission and a drug treatment and education fund would be created. Six million dollars per year would be transferred to this fund. Status: A total of 245,193 signatures were submitted. The measure was found to have sufficient valid signatures, and was subsequently certified to the Nov. 4 (1997) General Election Ballot. It was rejected by the following vote: YES - 659,244 NO - 1,006,964 View Complete Text
Assigned Number: Incomplete Filed: 02/03/1997 Sponsors Mr. Bruce S. Wishart Public Contact Information: 1023 W. 5th Olympia, WA 98502 Phone: (360) 754-9177
Assigned Number: Incomplete Filed: 02/06/1997 Sponsors Mr. John R. Murray Public Contact Information: 5727 156th Ave NE Redmond, WA 98052 Phone: (206) 885-6972
Assigned Number: Incomplete Filed: 02/25/1997 Sponsors Mr. Bruce S. Wishart Public Contact Information: 1023 W. 5th Olympia, WA 98502 Phone: (360) 943-1141
Assigned Number: Incomplete Filed: 03/26/1997 Sponsors Mr. Patrick M. Crawford Public Contact Information: PO 161 Little Rock, WA 98556 Phone: (360) 357-7536
Assigned Number: Incomplete Filed: 03/31/1997 Sponsors Mr. Ed Owens Mr. John Grahame Bell Public Contact Information: 800 5th Avenue, Suite 125 Seattle, WA 98104-3191 Phone: (206) 781-7750