SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 1770

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

State & Local Government, March 22, 2001

Title:  An act relating to contributions made to a candidate who loses a primary.

Brief Description:  Allowing contributions to primary losers.

Sponsors:  By Representatives McDermott, D. Schmidt, Haigh, Miloscia, Dunshee, McMorris, Morris, Romero, Esser, Lambert, Schindler, Dickerson and Ogden.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  3/21/01, 3/22/01 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Fairley, Vice Chair; Hale, Horn, Kline, T. Sheldon and Swecker.

Staff:  Aaron Jennings (786‑7445)

Background:  Contributions made to a candidate for the state Legislature for the candidate=s primary campaign cannot be made after the date of the primary.  There is no limit on when a candidate may begin accepting campaign contributions, but a candidate for a state office must begin making campaign contribution reports within two weeks of accepting contributions.

Summary of Amended Bill:  Contributions to a candidate or candidate=s committee for primary elections may be made for 30 days following the date of the primary if the candidate lost the primary, the candidate=s committee has insufficient funds to pay debts that were outstanding the day of the primary, and the contribution is only raised and spent to satisfy the outstanding debt.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill allowed for a 25-day window to collect campaign contributions; the amended bill allows for 30 days.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This bill will allow candidates that lost the primary to pay off their campaign debts.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative McDermott, prime sponsor; Susan Harris, PDC.