WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

Professor Penny A. Hazelton

Bridge the Legal Research Gap

June 23, 2004

Legislative History Defined

Drafting and Introduction of a Bill, its Sequential History Towards Enactment

Extrinsic Aid to Determine Legislative Intent

Legislative History Can Be Cited in Washington

Howlett v. Cheetham (1897)(bill drafts) Scouten v. Whatcom (1903)(explicit

approval) Statute Must Be Ambiguous See Wang article, 7 UPS Law Review 571

(1984)

How a Bill Becomes Law Introduced – First Reading Referred to Committee Committee Holds Hearings Committee Recommends Action Referred to Rules Committee Second Reading – Debate on Merits Third Reading – Roll Call Vote on Final Passage Sent to Second House To Governor

Elements of Legislative History

Language of Session Law Committee Reports Debate on House and Senate Floor Sequential Versions of the Bill Hearings

Legal Research Guide

Gallagher Law Library– http://lib.law.washington.edu/ref/washleghis.ht

ml

Regularly Revised by Experts Checked for Link Rot

Problem:

A new law in Washington provides penalties for harassment of a guide dog. It is called Layla’s law. Find this law. Why was it enacted? Why is it called Layla’s law? Why did the National Federation of the Blind oppose this legislation?

Compile From Internet Sources

Find This Law:– Start with RCW section

http://search.leg.wa.gov/basic/textsearch/default.asp

– Bill information for 2001

– http://www.leg.wa.gov/wsladm/billinfo01_02/bills.cfm

– Read session law (ch. 112)

– Note bill number (ESSB 5942)

Locate Complete History of ESSB 5942– Choose Bill Information link

Compile from Internet (cont.)

Read Committee Reports House and Senate Journals (floor action)

– Not online; in print– Call Olympia – see Gallagher Guide

Who was Layla? How can we find out?– http://seattletimes.nwsource.com

Problem:

We need to understand the underlying language of the original enactment of Megan’s Law in Washington. This is the law that requires sexual offenders to register.

Compile From Print Sources

Search RCW http://search.leg.wa.gov/basic/textsearch/default.asp

RCW Sec. 9A.44.130– Note the Session Law (1990 ch. 3 §402)

Laws of Washington– Note the bill number (SSSB 6259)

Final Legislative Report Legislative Digest and History of Bills Journal of House and Journal of Senate

Wash. Rev. Code Ann.

Laws of Washington, 1990

Laws of Washington, 1990

Laws of Washington, 1990

Final Legislative Report, 1990

Final Legislative Report, 1990

Final Legislative Report, 1990

Legislative Digest, 1990 Regular

Washington Senate Journal, 1990

Washington Senate Journal, 1990

Legislative History Research -Tips Find an Article, Book Chapter, Court

Opinion, Brief That Refers to the Legislative History Materials

Plan Ahead – Print or Electronic? Determine Time to Spend on Project Weigh the Likelihood of Success Check the Gallagher Research Guide for

Material in Olympia