Drafting instructions guide lawmakers and staff through the bill‑creation cycle, from initial request to final code insertion. They emphasize early collaboration, clear written or emailed requests, and use of the computer‑accessible Revised Code of Washington. formatting and color coding speed review!
Definition of Drafting Instructions
Drafting instructions are the formal guidelines that direct how a bill is composed, reviewed, and prepared for legislative consideration. They cover the entire lifecycle of a legislative proposal, from the initial idea to the final version that is filed with the code revisers office. The instructions specify the required format, the legal references that must be included, and the style of language that should be used to ensure clarity and consistency with the Revised Code of Washington. They also outline the responsibilities of the requester, the legislative staff, and the code revisers, ensuring that each party understands its role in the drafting process. By following these instructions, drafters can avoid common pitfalls such as missing citations, improper formatting, or ambiguous language that could delay the bill’s passage. The instructions are designed to streamline the drafting workflow, promote uniformity across all bills, and provide a clear audit trail for the legislative history of each provision. They are updated regularly to reflect changes in statutory language, procedural rules, and technological tools that aid in electronic drafting and version control; Ultimately, drafting instructions serve as the backbone of a transparent, efficient, and legally sound legislative drafting environment. These instructions also delineate the approval a workflow, specify required signatures, establish the filing timeline, ensuring each bill meets statutory drafting standards before it reaches floor.
Preliminary Work
Before drafting, staff reviews existing statutes, consults stakeholders, and drafts a clear request. They gather relevant RCW sections, identify needed changes, and prepare a concise, complete written or emailed brief for the code revisers office. Drafting starts now
Role of Legislative Staff
Legislative staff serve as the bridge between lawmakers and the technical drafting process. They begin by gathering policy objectives, stakeholder input, and existing statutory language. Staff then draft a concise request that specifies the desired changes, the target RCW sections, and any procedural nuances. Staff also coordinate with the code revisers office, ensuring that the request is clear, complete, and includes contact details for follow‑up. Staff also review prior bills and recent revisions to avoid duplication and to maintain consistency across the Revised Code of Washington. By providing a well‑structured, color‑marked draft in MS Word format, they enable rapid identification of deletions, additions, and amendments. Their role extends to verifying that the proposed changes comply with legislative intent, procedural rules, and statutory hierarchy. They may request wide pulls or continuous‑feed paper for extensive revisions, and they remain available to clarify ambiguities or supply additional context. Ultimately, legislative staff’s meticulous preparation and clear communication streamline the drafting workflow, reduce turnaround time, and support accurate, efficient incorporation of new laws into the state’s codified framework. Their collaborative efforts ensure that every amendment aligns with statutory goals, preserves legal clarity, and facilitates swift legislative action. Their meticulous drafting practices uphold Washington’s legal framework, ensuring effective statutes.
Request Submission
Submit requests via email or written form to the code revisers office. Include clear objectives, target RCW sections, and contact details. Use MS Word with colored fonts for edits. Early submission speeds processing and ensures accurate, timely drafting Submit now quickly.
Email and Written Requests
Requests for new bills or amendments can be submitted in two primary formats: a formal written request or an electronic email to the Code Revisers Office. The written request should be on official stationery or a clear, typed document that identifies the requester, the intended sponsor (legislator, committee, or agency), and the specific RCW sections or statutes to be affected. For email submissions, attach the request as a Microsoft Word document, ensuring that any proposed changes are highlighted with colored fonts. This visual cue allows the revisers to quickly identify deletions, additions, and restructured language. Both formats must include complete contact details—name, office, phone number, and email address—so that the revisers can promptly seek clarification or additional information. Submitting the request as early as possible, ideally before the legislative session begins, helps the revisers schedule the drafting work and reduces turnaround time. The Office does not require a retyped or perfected copy of the bill; a draft with clear, marked changes suffices. If the request involves a bill from another state, include a copy of that bill for reference. By following these guidelines, the request is processed efficiently, allowing the revisers to produce a draft that aligns with the legislative intent and the current Revised Code structure. These steps streamline drafting, cut errors, and ensure final bill meets statutory requirements and legislative intent for stakeholders.!!
Revised Code Access
The Revised Code of Washington is available electronically. Drafters can pull current and recent bills from the Code Revisers Office, use computer‑accessible versions, and mark changes directly in Word. This speeds review and ensures compliance. Access via portal in minutes!!
Computer-accessible Revised Code of Washington
The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) is available in a fully searchable, computer‑accessible format through the state’s official legislative website. Drafters can retrieve the most recent version of any RCW section, view historical amendments, and download the text in plain‑text or Word format for editing. The electronic platform supports advanced search functions, allowing users to locate specific statutory language, cross‑references, and legislative history notes with a single query. By accessing the RCW on a computer, drafters can avoid the time‑consuming step of retyping or scanning printed copies, thereby reducing errors and ensuring the draft aligns precisely with the current statutory framework. The online wide RCW offers printable version of sections on 11 x 17‑inch paper! This printable pull can be annotated with notes or printed, providing an approach for those who prefer drafting tools!! Additionally, the website provides downloadable XML files that can be imported into drafting software, enabling automated comparison and version control. For staff needing quick turnaround, the RCW’s access eliminates waiting for physical copies, drafts can be submitted and reviewed in real time!
Drafting Tools
Use wide pulls on continuous‑feed 11×17 paper for drafting. Print sections, annotate margins, then submit electronically. Color‑coded fonts highlight changes. Computer‑access to RCW lets you edit directly, saving time and reducing errors. Drafters use markup tools to track changes!!!.
Wide Pulls and Continuous-Feed Paper
Wide pulls are printed sections of the Revised Code of Washington on continuous‑feed 11‑by‑17‑inch paper. They provide a large margin beside the text, allowing drafters to write comments, deletions, additions, and structural changes directly on the sheet. When a bill requires extensive revision or restructuring, a wide pull is especially useful because it preserves the original formatting while giving ample space for notes. The printout is often called a “pull,” and the wide pull variant is specifically designed for drafting. Drafters can use colored pens or high‑lighters to mark changes, and the continuous‑feed format ensures that the entire section is available in a single, unbroken sheet, reducing the risk of missing context. After drafting on the wide pull, the changes can be transferred to the computer‑accessible version of the bill, or the wide pull can be scanned and uploaded to the code revisers office. The wide pull is an essential tool for legislators, staff, and anyone who needs to collaborate closely on the wording of a statute. It bridges the gap between the digital and physical drafting worlds, offering a tactile, visual aid that enhances clarity and reduces errors during the legislative process. Additionally the wide pull format is compatible with office equipment, making it easy to share with colleagues who may not have access to the online Revised Code for clarity ! The wide pull thus serves as both a drafting aid and a reference tool, supporting legislators in producing accurate, well‑structured bills.
Deletions and Additions
Use colored fonts to mark deletions (red) and additions (green) on the computer‑accessible draft. Clear, visible changes help reviewers quickly identify edits, ensuring accurate, efficient processing by the code revisers office. Use color codes for quick reference now.
Marking Changes with Colored Fonts
When preparing a draft for the Revised Code of Washington, it is essential to highlight all deletions and additions using distinct colored fonts. Deletions should be rendered in a bold red typeface, while additions should appear in a bright green font. This visual distinction allows code revisers to quickly scan the document, identify the precise modifications, and verify that each change aligns with legislative intent. The use of color coding is recommended over other methods such as underlining or strikethrough, because colors are immediately noticeable and reduce the risk of misinterpretation. In practice, the draft should be created in a word processing program that supports color fonts, such as Microsoft Word, and saved in a format that preserves the color information, as well as .docx. When the draft is submitted electronically, the color-coded changes should remain intact; if the document is printed, the colors must be reproduced accurately on the wide pull or continuous‑feed paper. The code revisers office will then use the color markings to apply the changes to the official code, ensuring that the final version reflects the intended amendments. By following this practice, legislators and staff can streamline the review process, reduce errors, and expedite the passage of new or revised statutes. This approach ensures consistency across all legislative documents and facilitates rapid approval by the revisers office. All edits must be justified, with ref.
Tips for Fast Processing
Submit requests promptly, identify requester and contact, ensure clarity, use MS Word with colored fonts, avoid PDFs, include all necessary details, and follow the code revisers office guidelines for rapid review. Include a justification for each change to aid review.
Clarity, Completeness, and Contact Details
When submitting a bill draft request, the most effective way to accelerate processing is to provide a clear, complete, and well‑structured packet. First, identify the requester’s name, title, and the specific legislator, committee, or agency that will receive the draft. Include the contact person’s phone number, email address, and office location so that the code revisers office can quickly resolve any questions. Next, ensure the request itself is concise yet comprehensive: state the purpose of the bill, the sections of the Revised Code of Washington that will be affected, and any relevant background or supporting documents. Use Microsoft Word for the draft, and mark all deletions and additions with distinct colored fonts; avoid PDF or image formats, which slow down review. If the draft incorporates language from another state’s statutes, attach a copy of that source bill and explain the rationale for its inclusion. Finally, attach a brief justification for each change, outlining the intended impact and any potential conflicts with existing law. By following these guidelines, the code revisers office can process the request more quickly and accurately, reducing turnaround time and minimizing the need for back‑and‑forth communication.
To expedite the process, requesters should provide a summary of the bill’s purpose, anticipated impact, and data. Specify the exact RCW sections to amend, indicating whether changes are additive or subtractive, to help revisers prioritize and integrate the draft accuratelyso.