To the Honorable President and Members,
The House of Representatives of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am returning herewith, without my approval as to section 714, Second Substitute House Bill No. 2346 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to the uniform parentage act;"

Second Substitute House Bill No. 2346 adopts the 2000 Uniform Parentage Act, to replace the old 1973 act. The new act streamlines procedures and cleans up complications that have arisen with changes in science and society over the past several years.

Two bills addressing determination of parentage passed the legislature this year. The other bill, Substitute Senate Bill No. 5433, which I signed on March 12, 2002, amended the same statutes that this bill repeals and becomes effective on June 13, 2002. Section 714 of this bill makes the act effective on July 1, 2002, about two weeks after SSB 5433. By vetoing the delayed effective date in section 714, both bills become effective on the same day, and we will avoid having the amendments in SSB 5433 become law for only a very short time. Potential for legal anomalies and confusion will be avoided.

For these reasons, I have vetoed section 714 of Second Substitute House Bill No. 2346.

With the exception of section 714, Second Substitute House Bill No. 2346 is approved.

Respectfully submitted,

Gary Locke
Governor