WSR 98-05-107

PROPOSED RULES

PUBLIC DISCLOSURE COMMISSION

[Filed February 18, 1998, 11:50 a.m.]

Original Notice.

Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 98-01-187.

Title of Rule: WAC 390-05-400 Changes in dollar amounts.

Purpose: Adjust for inflation the dollar amounts imposed by Initiative 134 in 1992. These amounts were last amended in 1996.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 42.17.370(1) and [42.17].690.

Statute Being Implemented: RCW 42.17.690.

Summary: In even-numbered years, RCW 42.17.690 requires the commission to adjust for inflation the contribution limits and other dollar amounts established by Initiative 134. The proposed amendment to WAC 390-05-400 is being offered in order to satisfy this statutory obligation.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: The existing contribution limits and dollar amounts would be adjusted for inflation according to the formula set out in statute.

Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation: Vicki Rippie, Public Disclosure Commission, 711 Capitol Way, Room 403, Olympia, (360) 586-4838; and Enforcement: Susan Harris, Public Disclosure Commission, 711 Capitol Way, Room 403, Olympia, (360) 753-1981.

Name of Proponent: Public Disclosure Commission, governmental.

Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: The proposed rule implements the statutory requirement to adjust the dollar amounts imposed by I-134 every two years.

Using the implicit price deflator inflation index and the formula called for in statute, the original contribution limits and other dollar amounts imposed by I-134 would go up about fifteen percent. However, since these dollar amounts were adjusted in 1996, the actual increase over current dollar levels would be quite modest.

Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: The changes only adjust contribution limits and other dollar amounts for inflation.

No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The proposal would only affect a business that contributes to political campaigns, allowing it, along with other types of contributors, to give slightly more than is currently allowed by law.

Section 201, chapter 403, Laws of 1995, does not apply to this rule adoption. The Public Disclosure Commission is not an agency listed in subsection (5)(a)(i) of section 201. Further, the Public Disclosure Commission does not voluntarily make section 201 applicable to this rule adoption pursuant to subsection (5)(a)(ii) of section 201, and to date JARRC has not made section 201 applicable to this rule adoption.

Hearing Location: Second Floor Conference Room, Evergreen Plaza Building, 711 Capitol Way, Olympia, WA, on March 24, 1998, at 9:00 a.m.

Submit Written Comments to: Vicki Rippie, Public Disclosure Commission, P.O. Box 40908, Olympia, WA 98504-0908, FAX (360) 753-1112, by March 13, 1998.

Date of Intended Adoption: March 24, 1998.

February 18, 1998

Melissa Warheit

Executive Director

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 96-04-021, filed 1/30/96)

WAC 390-05-400 Changes in dollar amounts. Pursuant to the requirement in RCW 42.17.690 that the commission biennially revise the dollar amounts found in Initiative 134 to reflect changes in economic conditions, the following revisions are made:

[Open Style:Columns Off]

Code Section Subject Matter Amount Enacted or Last Revised ((1996)) 1998

Revision

.020 Definition of Independent

Expenditure (($500)) $550 (($550)) $575

.125 Reimbursement of candidate for loan to

own campaign (($3,000)) $3,500 $3,500

.180(1) Report--

Applicability of provisions to

Persons who made contributions (($10,000)) $11,000 (($11,000)) $11,500

Persons who made independent

expenditures (($500)) $550 (($550)) $575

.640(1) Contribution Limits--

Candidates for state leg. office (($500)) $550 (($550)) $575

Candidates for other state office (($1,000)) $1,100 (($1,100)) $1,150

.640(2) Contribution Limits--

State official up for recall or pol comm.

supporting recall--

State Legislative Office (($500)) $550 (($550)) $575

Other State Office (($1,000)) $1,100 (($1,100)) $1,150

.640(3) Contribution Limits--

Contributions made by political parties

and caucus committees

State parties and caucus committees ((.50)) .55 per voter ((.55)) .58 per voter

County and leg. district parties ((.25)) .28 per voter ((.28)) .29 per voter

Limit for all county and leg. district

parties to a candidate ((.25)) .28 per voter ((.28)) .29 per voter

.640(4) Contribution Limits--

Contributions made by pol. parties and caucus

committees to state official up for recall or

committee supporting recall ((.50)) .55 per voter ((.55)) .58 per voter

State parties and caucuses

County and leg. district parties ((.25)) .28 per voter ((.28)) .29 per voter

Limit for all county and leg. district parties

to state official up for recall or pol. comm.

supporting recall ((.25)) .28 per voter ((.28)) .29 per voter

.640(((5))) (6) Limits on contributions to political parties

and caucus committees

To caucus committee (($500)) $550 (($550)) $575

To political party (($2,500)) $2,750 (($2,750)) $2,875

.740 Contribution must be made by written instrument (($50)) $55 $55

[Open Style:Columns On]

[Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.690. 96-04-021, 390-05-400, filed 1/30/96, effective 3/1/96.]