HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1089

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                    Government Operations

Title:  An act relating to late campaign contributions.

Brief Description:  Extending late campaign contribution limitations to all state‑wide elections.

Sponsors:  Representatives L. Thomas, Blanton, Campbell and D. Schmidt.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Government Operations:  1/25/95, 1/27/95 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 14 members:  Representatives Reams, Chair; Goldsmith, Vice Chair; L. Thomas, Vice Chair; Rust, Ranking Minority Member; Scott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chopp; R. Fisher; Hargrove; Honeyford; Hymes; Mulliken; D. Schmidt; Van Luven and Wolfe.

Staff:  Bill Lynch (786-7092).

Background:  It is a violation of state law for a person to make, or for a candidate or political committee to accept from any one person, contributions which exceed in the aggregate $50,000 for any campaign for statewide office or $5,000 for any other campaign within 21 days of a general election.  The prohibition does not apply to contributions made by or accepted from a major Washington State political party.  The term "contributions" includes contributions made or received indirectly through a third party or entity regardless of whether the contributions are reported as earmarked contributions to the Public Disclosure Commission.

This prohibition against receiving large contributions late in the campaign only applies to general elections.

Summary of Bill:  It is a violation for a person to make, or for a candidate or political committee to accept from any one person other than a major Washington State political party, contributions which exceed in the aggregate $50,000 for a campaign for statewide office or $5,000 for any other campaign within 21 days of a primary, a general or special election, or an election in which a ballot proposition is submitted to the voters.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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

Testimony For:  It is important to extend the current prohibition against late campaign contributions to other elections.  This measure had wide-spread support last year.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Les Thomas, prime sponsor.