SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6522

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

            Government Operations, February 2, 1996

Title:  An act relating to the citizen members of the legislative ethics board.

Brief Description:  Limiting political activities of citizen members of the legislative ethics board.

Sponsors:  Senators Spanel, Long and Kohl.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  1/30/96, 2/2/96 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6522 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Sheldon, Vice Chair; Goings, Hale, Heavey and Winsley.

Staff:  Rod McAulay (786-7754)

Background:  The Legislative Ethics Board consists of nine members: two senators, two representatives, and five citizen members.  Four of the citizen members are selected by the Governor from a list of three names provided by each of the four legislative caucuses.  The fifth citizen member is selected by three of the four other citizen members.

The citizen members of the Legislative Ethics Board may not hold or campaign for partisan elective office or be an officer of any political party or political committee, other than the position of precinct committee person.  They may not hold or campaign for any full-time nonpartisan office.  They may not permit their name to be used, or make contributions, in support of or in opposition to any state candidate or state ballot measure.  They may not lobby or control, direct, or assist a lobbyist except that they may appear before any committee of the Legislature on matters pertaining to state ethics laws.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The limitations on the political activities of the citizen members of the Legislative Ethics Board are modified.  Citizen members of the Legislative Ethics Board may not contribute to or support legislative candidates nor legislative caucus committees nor political action committees that support legislative candidates.  The prohibition on supporting or opposing state ballot measures is repealed.  The prohibition against lobbying is clarified.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill prohibited citizen members of the Legislative Ethics Board from holding any elective office.  The substitute restores the current law on this question and permits members to serve as precinct committee persons and to hold part-time nonpartisan positions.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  No one.