Z-0715.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1723
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 54th Legislature 1995 Regular Session
By Representatives Reams, Rust, L. Thomas, Goldsmith, Patterson and Appelwick; by request of Governor Lowry
Read first time 02/06/95. Referred to Committee on Government Operations.
AN ACT Relating to fair campaign practices; amending RCW 42.17.020, 42.17.130, 42.17.190, 42.17.240, 42.17.241, 42.17.350, 42.17.405, 42.17.410, 42.17.660, 42.17.720, 42.17.740, 42.17.750, 42.17.770, 42.17.780, 42.17.790, 42.17.100, 42.17.125, 42.17.510, 42.17.090, 42.17.105, 42.17.640, 42.17.128, 42.17.510, 29.85.060, 43.290.020, 42.17.710, 42.17.395, 42.17.095, 42.17.160, 42.17.170, 42.17.132, 43.07.310, 29.80.010, 29.80.020, 29.81.010, 29.80.040, and 29.80.090; adding new sections to chapter 42.17 RCW; creating new sections; and repealing RCW 42.17.021, 42.17.2415, and 42.17.630.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
CAMPAIGN PRACTICES
Sec. 1. RCW 42.17.020 and 1992 c 139 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
DEFINITIONS. (1) "Agency" includes all state agencies and all local agencies. "State agency" includes every state office, department, division, bureau, board, commission, or other state agency. "Local agency" includes every county, city, town, municipal corporation, quasi-municipal corporation, or special purpose district, or any office, department, division, bureau, board, commission, or agency thereof, or other local public agency.
(2) "Ballot proposition" means any "measure" as defined by RCW 29.01.110, or any initiative, recall, or referendum proposition proposed to be submitted to the voters of the state or any municipal corporation, political subdivision, or other voting constituency from and after the time when the proposition has been initially filed with the appropriate election officer of that constituency prior to its circulation for signatures.
(3) "Bona fide political party" means:
(a) An organization that has filed a valid certificate of nomination with the secretary of state under chapter 29.24 RCW; or
(b) The governing body of the state organization of a major political party, as defined in RCW 29.01.090, which is the body authorized by the charter or bylaws of the party to exercise authority on behalf of the state party; or
(c) The county central committee or legislative district committee of a major political party. There may be only one legislative district committee for each party in each legislative district.
(4) "Caucus of the state legislature" means the caucus of members of a major political party in the state house of representatives or in the state senate.
(5) "Depository" means a bank designated by a candidate or political committee pursuant to RCW 42.17.050.
(((4))) (6)
"Treasurer" and "deputy treasurer" mean the individuals
appointed by a candidate or political committee, pursuant to RCW 42.17.050, to
perform the duties specified in that section.
(((5))) (7)
"Candidate" means ((any individual who seeks election to public
office. An individual shall be deemed to seek election when he first:
(a) Receives
contributions or makes expenditures or reserves space or facilities with intent
to promote his candidacy for office; or
(b) Announces
publicly or files for office)) an
individual seeking nomination for election or seeking election to an office.
An individual is deemed to be seeking nomination for election or seeking
election when the individual first:
(a) Announces publicly or files for the office;
(b) Purchases commercial advertising space or broadcast time to promote his or her candidacy;
(c) Receives contributions or makes expenditures for facilities with intent to promote his or her candidacy for the office; or
(d) Gives his or her consent to another person to take on behalf of the individual any of the actions in (b) or (c) of this subsection.
(((6))) (8)
"Commercial advertiser" means any person who sells the service of
communicating messages or producing printed material for broadcast or
distribution to the general public or segments of the general public whether
through the use of newspapers, magazines, television and radio stations,
billboard companies, direct mail advertising companies, printing companies, or
otherwise.
(((7))) (9)
"Commission" means the agency established under RCW 42.17.350.
(((8))) (10)
"Compensation" unless the context requires a narrower meaning,
includes payment in any form for real or personal property or services of any
kind: PROVIDED, That for the purpose of compliance with RCW 42.17.241, the
term "compensation" shall not include per diem allowances or other
payments made by a governmental entity to reimburse a public official for
expenses incurred while the official is engaged in the official business of the
governmental entity.
(((9))) (11)
"Continuing political committee" means a political committee that is
an organization of continuing existence not established in anticipation of any
particular election campaign.
(((10))) (12)
"Contract lobbyist" is a person, other than a regular employee of a
lobbyist employer, who independently contracts for economic consideration for
the purpose of lobbying.
(13)(a)
"Contribution" includes a loan, gift, deposit, subscription,
forgiveness of indebtedness, donation, advance, pledge, payment, transfer of
funds between political committees, or transfer of anything of value, including
personal and professional services for less than full consideration((, but
does not include interest on moneys deposited in a political committee's
account, ordinary home hospitality and the rendering of personal services of
the sort commonly performed by volunteer campaign workers, or incidental
expenses personally incurred by volunteer campaign workers not in excess of
fifty dollars personally paid for by the worker. Volunteer services, for the
purposes of this chapter, means services or labor for which the individual is
not compensated by any person. For the purposes of this chapter, contributions
other than money or its equivalents shall be deemed to have a money value
equivalent to the fair market value of the contribution. Sums paid for tickets
to fund-raising events such as dinners and parties are contributions; however,
the amount of any such contribution may be reduced for the purpose of complying
with the reporting requirements of this chapter, by the actual cost of
consumables furnished in connection with the purchase of the tickets, and only
the excess over the actual cost of the consumables shall be deemed a
contribution)).
(((11))) (b)
Subject to further definition by the commission, "contribution" does
not include the following:
(i) Interest on money deposited in a political committee's account;
(ii) Ordinary home hospitality;
(iii) A contribution received by a candidate or political committee that is returned to the contributor within five business days of the date on which it is received by the candidate or political committee;
(iv) An expenditure or contribution earmarked for voter registration, for absentee ballot information, for precinct caucuses, for get-out-the-vote campaigns, for precinct judges or inspectors, for sample ballots, or for ballot counting, all without promotion of or political advertising for individual candidates;
(v) A news item, feature, commentary, or editorial in a regularly scheduled news medium that is of primary interest to the general public, that is in a news medium controlled by a person whose primary business is that news medium, and that is not controlled by a candidate or political committee;
(vi) An expenditure by a political committee for its own internal organization or fund raising without direct association with individual candidates;
(vii) An internal political communication primarily limited to the contributors to a political party organization or political action committee, or the officers, management staff, and stockholders of a corporation or similar enterprise, or the members of a labor organization or other membership organization;
(viii) The rendering of personal services of the sort commonly performed by volunteer campaign workers, or incidental expenses personally incurred by volunteer campaign workers not in excess of fifty dollars personally paid for by the worker. "Volunteer services," for the purposes of this section, means services or labor for which the individual is not compensated by any person and that are performed outside the individual's normal working hours; or
(ix) Legal or accounting services rendered to or on behalf of:
(A) A political party or political committee established by a caucus of the state legislature if the person paying for the services is the regular employer of the person rendering such services; or
(B) A candidate or an authorized committee if the person paying for the services is the regular employer of the individual rendering the services and if the services are solely for the purpose of ensuring compliance with state election or public disclosure laws.
(c) Contributions other than money or its equivalent are deemed to have a monetary value equivalent to the fair market value of the contribution.
(d) Sums paid for tickets to fund-raising events such as dinners and parties are contributions, except for the actual cost of the consumables furnished at the event.
(e) An expenditure made by a person in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, a candidate, a political committee, or their agents, is considered to be a contribution to such candidate or political committee.
(f) The financing by a person of the dissemination, distribution, or republication, in whole or in part, of broadcast, written, graphic, or other form of political advertising prepared by a candidate, a political committee, or its authorized agent, is considered to be a contribution to the candidate or political committee.
(14) "Elected official" means any person elected at a general or special election to any public office, and any person appointed to fill a vacancy in any such office.
(((12))) (15)
"Election" includes any primary, general, or special election for
public office and any election in which a ballot proposition is submitted to
the voters: PROVIDED, That an election in which the qualifications for voting
include other than those requirements set forth in Article VI, section 1
(Amendment 63) of the Constitution of the state of Washington shall not be
considered an election for purposes of this chapter.
(((13))) (16)
"Election campaign" means any campaign in support of or in opposition
to a candidate for election to public office and any campaign in support of, or
in opposition to, a ballot proposition.
(((14))) (17)
"Election cycle" means the period beginning on the first day of December
after the date of the last previous general election for the office that the
candidate seeks and ending on November 30th after the next election for the
office. In the case of a special election to fill a vacancy in an office,
"election cycle" means the period beginning on the day the vacancy
occurs and ending on November 30th after the special election.
(18) "Employee lobbyist" is a regular employee of a lobbyist employer who has lobbying as all or part of his or her regular duties for his or her lobbyist employer.
(19) "Expenditure" includes a payment, contribution, subscription, distribution, loan, advance, deposit, or gift of money or anything of value, and includes a contract, promise, or agreement, whether or not legally enforceable, to make an expenditure. The term "expenditure" also includes a promise to pay, a payment, or a transfer of anything of value in exchange for goods, services, property, facilities, or anything of value for the purpose of assisting, benefiting, or honoring any public official or candidate, or assisting in furthering or opposing any election campaign. For the purposes of this chapter, agreements to make expenditures, contracts, and promises to pay may be reported as estimated obligations until actual payment is made. The term "expenditure" shall not include the partial or complete repayment by a candidate or political committee of the principal of a loan, the receipt of which loan has been properly reported.
(((15))) (20)
"Independent expenditure" means an "expenditure" as defined
in this section that has each of the following elements:
(a) It is made in support of or in opposition to a candidate for office by a person who is not (i) a candidate for that office, (ii) an authorized committee of that candidate for that office, (iii) a person who has received the candidate's encouragement or approval to make the expenditure, if the expenditure pays in whole or in part for any political advertising supporting that candidate or promoting the defeat of any other candidate or candidates for that office, or (iv) a person with whom the candidate has collaborated for the purpose of making the expenditure, if the expenditure pays in whole or in part for any political advertising supporting that candidate or promoting the defeat of any other candidate or candidates for that office;
(b) The expenditure pays in whole or in part for any political advertising that either specifically names the candidate supported or opposed, or clearly and beyond any doubt identifies the candidate without using the candidate's name; and
(c) The expenditure, alone or in conjunction with another expenditure or other expenditures of the same person in support of or opposition to that candidate, has a value of five hundred dollars or more. A series of expenditures, each of which is under five hundred dollars, constitutes one independent expenditure if their cumulative value is five hundred dollars or more.
(21) "Final report" means the report described as a final report in RCW 42.17.080(2).
(((16))) (22)
"Gift((,))" ((for the purposes of RCW 42.17.170 and
42.17.2415, means a rendering of anything of value in return for which
reasonable consideration is not given and received and includes a rendering of
money, property, services, discount, loan forgiveness, payment of indebtedness,
or reimbursements from or payments by persons (other than the federal
government, or the state of Washington or any agency or political subdivision
thereof) for travel or anything else of value. The term "reasonable consideration"
refers to the approximate range of consideration that exists in transactions
not involving donative intent. However, the value of the gift of partaking in
a single hosted reception shall be determined by dividing the total amount of
the cost of conducting the reception by the total number of persons partaking
in the reception. "Gift" for the purposes of RCW 42.17.170 and
42.17.2415 does not include:
(a) A gift, other
than a gift of partaking in a hosted reception, with a value of fifty dollars
or less;
(b) The gift of
partaking in a hosted reception if the value of the gift is one hundred dollars
or less;
(c) A contribution
that is required to be reported under RCW 42.17.090 or 42.17.243;
(d) Informational
material that is transferred for the purpose of informing the recipient about
matters pertaining to official business of the governmental entity of which the
recipient is an official or officer, and that is not intended to confer on that
recipient any commercial, proprietary, financial, economic, or monetary
advantage, or the avoidance of any commercial, proprietary, financial,
economic, or monetary disadvantage;
(e) A gift that is
not used and that, within thirty days after receipt, is returned to the donor
or delivered to a charitable organization. However, this exclusion from the
definition does not apply if the recipient of the gift delivers the gift to a
charitable organization and claims the delivery as a charitable contribution
for tax purposes;
(f) A gift given
under circumstances where it is clear beyond any doubt that the gift was not
made as part of any design to gain or maintain influence in the governmental
entity of which the recipient is an officer or official or with respect to any
legislative matter or matters of that governmental entity; or
(g) A gift given
prior to September 29, 1991)) is
as defined in RCW 42.52.010. "Gift" does not include campaign
contributions reported under this chapter.
(((17))) (23)
"Immediate family" ((includes the spouse, dependent children, and
other dependent relatives, if living in the household)) means a spouse,
a child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, brother, half
brother, sister, or half sister of the person and the spouse of such person and
a child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, brother, half
brother, sister, or half sister of the spouse and the spouse of such person.
(((18))) (24)(a)
"Intermediary" means an individual who transmits a contribution to a
candidate or committee from another person unless the contribution is from the
individual's employer, immediate family, or an association to which the
individual belongs.
(b) A treasurer or a candidate is not an intermediary for purpose of the committee that the treasurer or candidate serves.
(c) A professional fund raiser is not an intermediary if the fund raiser is compensated for fund-raising services at the usual and customary rate.
(d) A volunteer hosting a fund-raising event at the individual's home is not an intermediary for purposes of that event.
(25) "Legislation" means bills, resolutions, motions, amendments, nominations, and other matters pending or proposed in either house of the state legislature, and includes any other matter that may be the subject of action by either house or any committee of the legislature and all bills and resolutions that, having passed both houses, are pending approval by the governor.
(((19))) (26)
"Lobby" and "lobbying" each mean attempting to influence
the passage or defeat of any legislation by the legislature of the state of
Washington, or the adoption or rejection of any rule, standard, rate, or other
legislative enactment of any state agency under the state Administrative
Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW. Neither "lobby" nor
"lobbying" includes an association's or other organization's act of
communicating with the members of that association or organization.
(((20))) (27)
"Lobbyist" includes any person who lobbies either in his or her
own or another's behalf and includes employee lobbyists and contract
lobbyists.
(((21))) (28)
"Lobbyist's employer" means the person or persons by whom a lobbyist
is employed ((and all persons by whom he is compensated for acting)) or
authorized to act as a lobbyist.
(((22))) (29)
"Person" includes an individual, partnership, joint venture, public
or private corporation, association, federal, state, or local governmental
entity or agency however constituted, candidate, committee, political
committee, political party, executive committee thereof, or any other
organization or group of persons, however organized.
(((23))) (30)
"Person in interest" means the person who is the subject of a record
or any representative designated by that person, except that if that person is
under a legal disability, the term "person in interest" means and
includes the parent or duly appointed legal representative.
(((24))) (31)
"Political advertising" includes any advertising displays, newspaper
ads, billboards, signs, brochures, articles, tabloids, flyers, letters, telemarketing,
radio or television presentations, or other means of mass communication, used
for the purpose of appealing, directly or indirectly, for votes or for
financial or other support in any election campaign.
(((25))) (32)
"Political committee" means any person (except a candidate or an
individual dealing with his or her own funds or property) having the
expectation of receiving contributions or making expenditures in support of, or
opposition to, any candidate or any ballot proposition.
(((26))) (33)
"Primary" means the procedure for nominating a candidate to state
office under chapter 29.18 or 29.21 RCW or any other primary for an election
which uses, in large measure, the procedures established in chapter 29.18 or
29.21 RCW.
(34) "Public office" means any federal, state, county, city, town, school district, port district, special district, or other state political subdivision elective office.
(((27))) (35)
"Public record" includes any writing containing information relating
to the conduct of government or the performance of any governmental or
proprietary function prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local
agency regardless of physical form or characteristics.
(((28))) (36)
"Recall campaign" means the period of time beginning on the date of
the filing of recall charges under RCW 29.82.015 and ending thirty days after
the recall election.
(37) "State legislative office" means the office of a member of the state house of representatives and the office of a member of the state senate.
(38) "State office" means state legislative office or the office of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, commissioner of public lands, insurance commissioner, superintendent of public instruction, state auditor, or state treasurer.
(39) "State official" means a person who holds a state office.
(40) "Surplus funds" mean, in the case of a political committee or candidate, the balance of contributions that remain in the possession or control of that committee or candidate subsequent to the election for which the contributions were received, and that are in excess of the amount necessary to pay remaining debts incurred by the committee or candidate prior to that election. In the case of a continuing political committee, "surplus funds" mean those contributions remaining in the possession or control of the committee that are in excess of the amount necessary to pay all remaining debts when it makes its final report under RCW 42.17.065.
(((29))) (41)
"Writing" means handwriting, typewriting, printing, photostating,
photographing, and every other means of recording any form of communication or
representation, including, but not limited to, letters, words, pictures,
sounds, or symbols, or combination thereof, and all papers, maps, magnetic or
paper tapes, photographic films and prints, motion picture, film and video
recordings, magnetic or punched cards, discs, drums, diskettes, sound
recordings, and other documents including existing data compilations from which
information may be obtained or translated.
As used in this chapter, the singular shall take the plural and any gender, the other, as the context requires.
USE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES
Sec. 2. RCW 42.17.130 and 1979 ex.s. c 265 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
USE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS. No elective local government
official nor any employee of his or her office nor any person appointed
to or employed by any local government public office or agency may use
or authorize the use of any of the facilities of a public office or agency,
directly or indirectly, for the purpose of assisting a campaign for election of
any person to any office or for the promotion of or opposition to any ballot
proposition. Knowing acquiescence by a person with authority to direct,
control, or influence the actions of the local government official or employee
using public resources in violation of this section constitutes a violation of
this section. Facilities of public office or agency include, but are not
limited to, use of stationery, postage, machines, and equipment, use of
employees of the office or agency during working hours, vehicles, office space,
publications of the office or agency, and clientele lists of persons served by
the office or agency((: PROVIDED, That)). The ((foregoing))
provisions of this section shall not apply to the following activities:
(1) Action taken at an open public meeting by members of an elected local government legislative body to express a collective decision, or to actually vote upon a motion, proposal, resolution, order, or ordinance, or to support or oppose a ballot proposition so long as (a) any required notice of the meeting includes the title and number of the ballot proposition, and (b) members of the legislative body or members of the public are afforded an approximately equal opportunity for the expression of an opposing view;
(2) A statement by an elected local government official in support of or in opposition to any ballot proposition at an open press conference or in response to a specific inquiry. For the purposes of this subsection, it is not a violation of this section for an elected local government official to respond to an inquiry regarding a ballot proposition, to make incidental remarks concerning a ballot proposition in an official communication, or otherwise comment on a ballot proposition without an actual, measurable expenditure of public funds. Measurable expenditure has the meaning adopted by rule under RCW 42.52.180;
(3) Activities which are part of the normal and regular conduct of the office or agency.
Sec. 3. RCW 42.17.190 and 1986 c 239 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
USE OF FACILITIES. (1)
((Every legislator and every committee of the legislature shall file with
the commission quarterly reports listing the names, addresses, and salaries of
all persons employed by the person or committee making the filing for the
purpose of aiding in the preparation or enactment of legislation or the
performance of legislative duties of such legislator or committee during the
preceding quarter. The reports shall be made in the form and the manner
prescribed by the commission and shall be filed between the first and tenth
days of each calendar quarter: PROVIDED, That the information required by this
subsection may be supplied, insofar as it is available, by the chief clerk of
the house of representatives or by the secretary of the senate on a form
prepared by the commission.)) The house of representatives and the
senate shall report annually: The total budget; the portion of the total
attributed to staff; number of full-time and part-time positions occupied by
nonpartisan staff, with dollar figures as well as number of positions; number
of full-time and part-time positions occupied by partisan staff, by caucus, and
the dollar figures attributed to those positions; and comparable figures for
the preceding ten years.
(2) Unless authorized by subsection (3) of this section or otherwise expressly authorized by law, no public funds may be used directly or indirectly for lobbying: PROVIDED, This does not prevent officers or employees of an agency from communicating with a member of the legislature on the request of that member; or communicating to the legislature, through the proper official channels, requests for legislative action or appropriations which are deemed necessary for the efficient conduct of the public business or actually made in the proper performance of their official duties: PROVIDED FURTHER, That this subsection does not apply to the legislative branch.
(3) Any agency, not
otherwise expressly authorized by law, may expend public funds for lobbying,
but such lobbying activity shall be limited to (a) providing information or
communicating on matters pertaining to official agency business to any elected
official or officer or employee of any agency or (b) advocating the official
position or interests of the agency to any elected official or officer or
employee of any agency: PROVIDED, That public funds may not be expended as a
direct or indirect gift or campaign contribution to any elected official or
officer or employee of any agency. ((For the purposes of this subsection,
the term "gift" means a voluntary transfer of any thing of value
without consideration of equal or greater value, but does not include
informational material transferred for the sole purpose of informing the
recipient about matters pertaining to official agency business: PROVIDED
FURTHER, That)) This section does not permit the printing of a
state publication which has been otherwise prohibited by law.
(4) No elective official or any employee of his or her office or any person appointed to or employed by any public office or agency may use or authorize the use of any of the facilities of a public office or agency, directly or indirectly, in any effort to support or oppose an initiative to the legislature. "Facilities of a public office or agency" has the same meaning as in RCW 42.17.130 and 42.52.180. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the following activities:
(a) Action taken at an open public meeting by members of an elected legislative body to express a collective decision, or to actually vote upon a motion, proposal, resolution, order, or ordinance, or to support or oppose an initiative to the legislature so long as (i) any required notice of the meeting includes the title and number of the initiative to the legislature, and (ii) members of the legislative body or members of the public are afforded an approximately equal opportunity for the expression of an opposing view;
(b) A statement by an elected official in support of or in opposition to any initiative to the legislature at an open press conference or in response to a specific inquiry;
(c) Activities which are part of the normal and regular conduct of the office or agency.
(5) Each state agency, county, city, town, municipal corporation, quasi-municipal corporation, or special purpose district which expends public funds for lobbying shall file with the commission, except as exempted by (d) of this subsection, quarterly statements providing the following information for the quarter just completed:
(a) The name of the agency filing the statement;
(b) The name, title, and job description and salary of each elected official, officer, or employee who lobbied, a general description of the nature of the lobbying, and the proportionate amount of time spent on the lobbying;
(c) A listing of expenditures incurred by the agency for lobbying including but not limited to travel, consultant or other special contractual services, and brochures and other publications, the principal purpose of which is to influence legislation;
(d) For purposes of this subsection the term "lobbying" does not include:
(i) Requests for appropriations by a state agency to the office of financial management pursuant to chapter 43.88 RCW nor requests by the office of financial management to the legislature for appropriations other than its own agency budget requests;
(ii) Recommendations or reports to the legislature in response to a legislative request expressly requesting or directing a specific study, recommendation, or report by an agency on a particular subject;
(iii) Official reports including recommendations submitted to the legislature on an annual or biennial basis by a state agency as required by law;
(iv) Requests, recommendations, or other communication between or within state agencies or between or within local agencies;
(v) Any other lobbying to the extent that it includes:
(A) Telephone conversations or preparation of written correspondence;
(B) In-person lobbying on behalf of an agency of no more than four days or parts thereof during any three-month period by officers or employees of that agency and in-person lobbying by any elected official of such agency on behalf of such agency or in connection with the powers, duties, or compensation of such official: PROVIDED, That the total expenditures of nonpublic funds made in connection with such lobbying for or on behalf of any one or more members of the legislature or state elected officials or public officers or employees of the state of Washington do not exceed fifteen dollars for any three-month period: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the exemption under this subsection is in addition to the exemption provided in (A) of this subsection;
(C) Preparation or adoption of policy positions.
The statements shall be in the form and the manner prescribed by the commission and shall be filed within one month after the end of the quarter covered by the report.
(6) In lieu of reporting under subsection (5) of this section any county, city, town, municipal corporation, quasi municipal corporation, or special purpose district may determine and so notify the public disclosure commission, that elected officials, officers, or employees who on behalf of any such local agency engage in lobbying reportable under subsection (5) of this section shall register and report such reportable lobbying in the same manner as a lobbyist who is required to register and report under RCW 42.17.150 and 42.17.170. Each such local agency shall report as a lobbyist employer pursuant to RCW 42.17.180.
(7) The provisions of this section do not relieve any elected official or officer or employee of an agency from complying with other provisions of this chapter, if such elected official, officer, or employee is not otherwise exempted.
(8) The purpose of this section is to require each state agency and certain local agencies to report the identities of those persons who lobby on behalf of the agency for compensation, together with certain separately identifiable and measurable expenditures of an agency's funds for that purpose. This section shall be reasonably construed to accomplish that purpose and not to require any agency to report any of its general overhead cost or any other costs which relate only indirectly or incidentally to lobbying or which are equally attributable to or inseparable from nonlobbying activities of the agency.
The public disclosure commission may adopt rules clarifying and implementing this legislative interpretation and policy.
Sec. 4. RCW 42.17.240 and 1993 c 2 s 31 are each amended to read as follows:
USE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES‑-CERTIFICATION.
(1) Every elected official and every executive state officer shall after
January 1st and before April 15th of each year file with the commission a
statement of financial affairs for the preceding calendar year. However, any
local elected official whose term of office expires immediately after December
31st shall file the statement required to be filed by this section for the year
that ended on that December 31st. ((In addition to and in conjunction with
the statement of financial affairs, every official and officer shall file a
statement describing any gifts received during the preceding calendar year.))
(2) Every candidate shall within two weeks of becoming a candidate file with the commission a statement of financial affairs for the preceding twelve months.
(3) Every person appointed to a vacancy in an elective office or executive state officer position shall within two weeks of being so appointed file with the commission a statement of financial affairs for the preceding twelve months.
(4) A statement of a candidate or appointee filed during the period from January 1st to April 15th shall cover the period from January 1st of the preceding calendar year to the time of candidacy or appointment if the filing of the statement would relieve the individual of a prior obligation to file a statement covering the entire preceding calendar year.
(5) No individual may be required to file more than once in any calendar year.
(6) Each statement of financial affairs filed under this section shall be sworn as to its truth and accuracy.
(7) Every elected official and every executive state officer shall file with their statement of financial affairs a statement certifying that they have read and are familiar with RCW 42.17.130 or 42.52.180, whichever is applicable.
(8) For the purposes of this section, the term "executive state officer" includes those listed in RCW 42.17.2401.
(((8))) (9)
This section does not apply to incumbents or candidates for a federal office or
the office of precinct committee officer.
Sec. 5. RCW 42.17.241 and 1984 c 34 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
FINANCIAL AFFAIRS REPORT‑-GIFTS. (1) The statement of financial affairs required by RCW 42.17.240 shall disclose for the reporting individual and each member of his immediate family:
(a) Occupation, name of employer, and business address; and
(b) Each bank or savings account or insurance policy in which any such person or persons owned a direct financial interest that exceeded five thousand dollars at any time during the reporting period; each other item of intangible personal property in which any such person or persons owned a direct financial interest, the value of which exceeded five hundred dollars during the reporting period; the name, address, and nature of the entity; and the nature and highest value of each such direct financial interest during the reporting period; and
(c) The name and address of each creditor to whom the value of five hundred dollars or more was owed; the original amount of each debt to each such creditor; the amount of each debt owed to each creditor as of the date of filing; the terms of repayment of each such debt; and the security given, if any, for each such debt: PROVIDED, That debts arising out of a "retail installment transaction" as defined in chapter 63.14 RCW (Retail Installment Sales Act) need not be reported; and
(d) Every public or private office, directorship, and position held as trustee; and
(e) All persons for whom any legislation, rule, rate, or standard has been prepared, promoted, or opposed for current or deferred compensation: PROVIDED, That for the purposes of this subsection, "compensation" does not include payments made to the person reporting by the governmental entity for which such person serves as an elected official or state executive officer or professional staff member for his service in office; the description of such actual or proposed legislation, rules, rates, or standards; and the amount of current or deferred compensation paid or promised to be paid; and
(f) The name and address of each governmental entity, corporation, partnership, joint venture, sole proprietorship, association, union, or other business or commercial entity from whom compensation has been received in any form of a total value of five hundred dollars or more; the value of the compensation; and the consideration given or performed in exchange for the compensation; and
(g) The name of any corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, union, or other entity in which is held any office, directorship, or any general partnership interest, or an ownership interest of ten percent or more; the name or title of that office, directorship, or partnership; the nature of ownership interest; and with respect to each such entity: (i) With respect to a governmental unit in which the official seeks or holds any office or position, if the entity has received compensation in any form during the preceding twelve months from the governmental unit, the value of the compensation and the consideration given or performed in exchange for the compensation; (ii) the name of each governmental unit, corporation, partnership, joint venture, sole proprietorship, association, union, or other business or commercial entity from which the entity has received compensation in any form in the amount of two thousand five hundred dollars or more during the preceding twelve months and the consideration given or performed in exchange for the compensation: PROVIDED, That the term "compensation" for purposes of this subsection (1)(g)(ii) does not include payment for water and other utility services at rates approved by the Washington state utilities and transportation commission or the legislative authority of the public entity providing the service: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That with respect to any bank or commercial lending institution in which is held any office, directorship, partnership interest, or ownership interest, it shall only be necessary to report either the name, address, and occupation of every director and officer of the bank or commercial lending institution and the average monthly balance of each account held during the preceding twelve months by the bank or commercial lending institution from the governmental entity for which the individual is an official or candidate or professional staff member, or all interest paid by a borrower on loans from and all interest paid to a depositor by the bank or commercial lending institution if the interest exceeds six hundred dollars; and
(h) A list, including legal or other sufficient descriptions as prescribed by the commission, of all real property in the state of Washington, the assessed valuation of which exceeds two thousand five hundred dollars in which any direct financial interest was acquired during the preceding calendar year, and a statement of the amount and nature of the financial interest and of the consideration given in exchange for that interest; and
(i) A list, including legal or other sufficient descriptions as prescribed by the commission, of all real property in the state of Washington, the assessed valuation of which exceeds two thousand five hundred dollars in which any direct financial interest was divested during the preceding calendar year, and a statement of the amount and nature of the consideration received in exchange for that interest, and the name and address of the person furnishing the consideration; and
(j) A list, including legal or other sufficient descriptions as prescribed by the commission, of all real property in the state of Washington, the assessed valuation of which exceeds two thousand five hundred dollars in which a direct financial interest was held: PROVIDED, That if a description of the property has been included in a report previously filed, the property may be listed, for purposes of this provision, by reference to the previously filed report; and
(k) A list, including legal or other sufficient descriptions as prescribed by the commission, of all real property in the state of Washington, the assessed valuation of which exceeds five thousand dollars, in which a corporation, partnership, firm, enterprise, or other entity had a direct financial interest, in which corporation, partnership, firm, or enterprise a ten percent or greater ownership interest was held; and
(l)(i) A list of each item specified in RCW 42.52.010(9)(d) and (f) received from a nongovernmental entity during the preceding calendar year with a value in excess of fifty dollars. Each item shall be identified by date and donor; and
(ii) A list of each occasion in which food and beverage in excess of fifty dollars was accepted; and
(m) Such other information as the commission may deem necessary in order to properly carry out the purposes and policies of this chapter, as the commission shall prescribe by rule.
(2) Where an amount is
required to be reported under subsection (1)((, paragraphs)) (a) through
(((k))) (m) of this section, it shall be sufficient to comply
with the requirement to report whether the amount is less than one thousand
dollars, at least one thousand dollars but less than five thousand dollars, at
least five thousand dollars but less than ten thousand dollars, at least ten
thousand dollars but less than twenty-five thousand dollars, or twenty-five
thousand dollars or more. An amount of stock may be reported by number of
shares instead of by market value. No provision of this subsection may be
interpreted to prevent any person from filing more information or more detailed
information than required.
(3) Items of value given to an official's or employee's spouse or children are attributable to the official or employee, except the item is not attributable if an independent business, family, or social relationship exists between the donor and the spouse or child.
PUBLIC DISCLOSURE COMMISSION‑-REPORTING
Sec. 6. RCW 42.17.350 and 1984 c 287 s 74 are each amended to read as follows:
PUBLIC DISCLOSURE
COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP INCREASED. There is hereby established a "public
disclosure commission" which shall be composed of ((five)) seven
members who shall be appointed by the governor, with the consent of the senate if
confirmation is requested by the appropriate standing committee of the senate.
The governor shall notify the secretary of the senate of the appointment. The
appropriate standing committee of the legislature must inform the governor
within sixty days of the notice that the senate intends to proceed with the
confirmation process. All appointees shall be persons of the highest
integrity and qualifications. No more than three members shall have an
identification with the same political party. The original members shall be appointed
within sixty days after January 1, 1973. The term of each member shall be five
years except that the ((original five members shall serve initial terms of
one, two, three, four, and five)) two new members appointed after the
effective date of this act shall serve initial terms of two and four years,
respectively, as designated by the governor. No member of the commission,
during his or her tenure, shall (1) hold or campaign for elective
office; (2) be an officer of any political party or political committee; (3)
permit his or her name to be used, or make contributions, in support of
or in opposition to any candidate or proposition; (4) participate in any way in
any election campaign; or (5) lobby or employ or assist a lobbyist: PROVIDED,
That a member or the staff of the commission may lobby to the limited extent
permitted by RCW 42.17.190 on matters directly affecting this chapter. No
member shall be eligible for appointment to more than ((one)) two
full terms. A vacancy on the commission shall be filled by the
governor within thirty days of the vacancy ((by the governor)), with
the consent of the senate((, and)) if requested by the appropriate
standing committee of the senate. The governor shall notify the secretary of
the senate of the appointment. The appropriate standing committee of the
legislature must inform the governor within sixty days of the notice that the
senate intends to proceed with the confirmation process. The appointee
shall serve for the remaining term of his or her predecessor. A vacancy
shall not impair the powers of the remaining members to exercise all of the
powers of the commission. ((Three)) Four members of the
commission shall constitute a quorum. The commission shall elect its own ((chairman))
chair and adopt its own rules of procedure in the manner provided in
chapter 34.05 RCW. Any member of the commission may be removed by the
governor, but only upon grounds of neglect of duty or misconduct in office.
Members shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.250 and in addition shall be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred while engaged in the business of the commission as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. The compensation provided pursuant to this section shall not be considered salary for purposes of the provisions of any retirement system created pursuant to the general laws of this state.
Sec. 7. RCW 42.17.405 and 1986 c 12 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
APPLICATION OF
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS SPECIAL DISTRICTS. (1) Except as provided in
subsections (2) ((and)), (3), and (4) of this section, the
reporting provisions of this chapter do not apply to candidates, elected
officials, and agencies in political subdivisions with less than one thousand
registered voters as of the date of the most recent general election in the
jurisdiction, to political committees formed to support or oppose candidates or
ballot propositions in such political subdivisions, or to persons making
independent expenditures in support of or opposition to such ballot
propositions.
(2) The reporting provisions of this chapter apply in any exempt political subdivision from which a "petition for disclosure" containing the valid signatures of fifteen percent of the number of registered voters, as of the date of the most recent general election in the political subdivision, is filed with the commission. The commission shall by rule prescribe the form of the petition. After the signatures are gathered, the petition shall be presented to the auditor or elections officer of the county, or counties, in which the political subdivision is located. The auditor or elections officer shall verify the signatures and certify to the commission that the petition contains no less than the required number of valid signatures. The commission, upon receipt of a valid petition, shall order every known affected person in the political subdivision to file the initially required statement and reports within fourteen days of the date of the order.
(3) The reporting provisions of this chapter apply in any exempt political subdivision that by ordinance, resolution, or other official action has petitioned the commission to make the provisions applicable to elected officials and candidates of the exempt political subdivision. A copy of the action shall be sent to the commission. If the commission finds the petition to be a valid action of the appropriate governing body or authority, the commission shall order every known affected person in the political subdivision to file the initially required statement and reports within fourteen days of the date of the order.
(4) The reporting provisions of RCW 42.17.240 apply to candidates, elected officials, and agencies in political subdivisions with less than one thousand registered voters as of the date of the most recent general election in the jurisdiction.
(5) The commission shall void any order issued by it pursuant to subsection (2) or (3) of this section when, at least four years after issuing the order, the commission is presented a petition or official action so requesting from the affected political subdivision. Such petition or official action shall meet the respective requirements of subsection (2) or (3) of this section.
(((5))) (6)
Any petition for disclosure, ordinance, resolution, or official action of an
agency petitioning the commission to void the exemption in RCW 42.17.030(3)
shall not be considered unless it has been filed with the commission:
(a) In the case of a ballot measure, at least sixty days before the date of any election in which campaign finance reporting is to be required;
(b) In the case of a candidate, at least sixty days before the first day on which a person may file a declaration of candidacy for any election in which campaign finance reporting is to be required.
(((6))) (7)
Any person exempted from reporting under this chapter may at his or her option
file the statement and reports.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. A new section is added to chapter 42.17 RCW to read as follows:
FEE‑-PUBLIC DISCLOSURE EDUCATION. The commission shall collect from each candidate, committee, and lobbyist required to report or register under this chapter, once per campaign cycle, or in the case of a lobbyist, at registration, a fee, not to exceed fifty dollars, to be set by rule by the commission. All receipts collected under this section shall be deposited in the public disclosure education fund, hereby created in the custody of the state treasurer. Expenditures from the account may be used only to develop and support a campaign education program. Only the executive director of the commission or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for expenditures.
Sec. 9. RCW 42.17.410 and 1982 c 147 s 18 are each amended to read as follows:
LIMITATION ON ACTIONS.
Any action brought under the provisions of this chapter must be commenced
within ((five)) seven years after the date when the violation
occurred.
TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS
Sec. 10. RCW 42.17.660 and 1993 c 2 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. For purposes of this chapter:
(1) A contribution by a political committee with funds that have all been contributed by one person who exercises exclusive control over the distribution of the funds of the political committee is a contribution by the controlling person.
(2) Two or more
entities are treated as a single entity if one of the two or more entities is a
corporate subsidiary, branch, or department of ((a corporation)) one
of the other entities or a local unit, branch, or affiliate of one of
the other entities that is a trade association, labor union, or collective
bargaining association. All contributions made by a person or political
committee whose contribution or expenditure activity is financed, maintained,
or controlled by a single trade association, labor union, collective
bargaining organization, or the local unit of a trade association, labor union,
or collective bargaining organization are considered made by ((the same person
or entity)) such association, union, or organization.
Sec. 11. RCW 42.17.720 and 1993 c 2 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:
TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
(1) A loan is considered to be a contribution from the ((maker)) lender
and ((the)) any guarantor of the loan and is subject to the
contribution limitations of this chapter. The full amount of the loan shall
be attributed to the lender and to each guarantor.
(2) A loan to a candidate or the candidate's political committee must be by written agreement.
(3) The proceeds of a loan made to a candidate:
(a) By a commercial lending institution;
(b) Made in the regular course of business; and
(c) On the same terms
ordinarily available to members of the public((; and
(d) That is secured
or guaranteed)),
are not subject to the contribution limits of this chapter.
Sec. 12. RCW 42.17.740 and 1993 c 2 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:
TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
(1) ((An individual)) A person may not make a contribution of
more than fifty dollars, other than an in-kind contribution, except by a
written instrument containing the name of the donor and the name of the payee.
(2) A political committee may not make a contribution, other than in-kind, except by a written instrument containing the name of the donor and the name of the payee.
Sec. 13. RCW 42.17.750 and 1993 c 2 s 15 are each amended to read as follows:
TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. (1) No state official or state official's agent may knowingly solicit, directly or indirectly, a contribution to a candidate, political party, or political committee from an employee in the state official's agency.
(2) No state official or state employee may provide an advantage or disadvantage to an employee or applicant for employment in the classified civil service concerning the applicant's or employee's:
(a) Employment;
(b) Conditions of employment; or
(c) Application for employment,
based on the employee's or applicant's contribution or promise to contribute or failure to make a contribution or contribute to a political party or political committee.
Sec. 14. RCW 42.17.770 and 1993 c 2 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:
TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
A person ((or entity)) may not solicit from a candidate, political
committee, political party, or other person ((or entity)) money or other
property as a condition or consideration for an endorsement, article, or other
communication in the news media promoting or opposing a candidate, political
committee, or political party.
Sec. 15. RCW 42.17.780 and 1993 c 2 s 18 are each amended to read as follows:
TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
A person ((or entity)) may not, directly or indirectly, reimburse
another person ((or entity)) for a contribution to a candidate, political
committee, or political party.
Sec. 16. RCW 42.17.790 and 1993 c 2 s 19 are each amended to read as follows:
TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a candidate or the candidate's political committee may not use or permit the use of contributions, whether or not surplus, solicited for or received by the candidate or the candidate's political committee to further the candidacy of the individual for an office other than the office designated on the statement of organization. A contribution solicited for or received on behalf of the candidate is considered solicited or received for the candidacy for which the individual is then a candidate if the contribution is solicited or received before the general elections for which the candidate is a nominee or is unopposed.
(2) With the written approval of the contributor, a candidate or the candidate's political committee may use or permit the use of contributions, whether or not surplus, solicited for or received by the candidate or the candidate's political committee from that contributor to further the candidacy of the individual for an office other than the office designated on the statement of organization.
Sec. 17. RCW 42.17.100 and 1989 c 280 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. (1) For the purposes of this section and RCW 42.17.550 the term "independent campaign expenditure" means any expenditure that is made in support of or in opposition to any candidate or ballot proposition and is not otherwise required to be reported pursuant to RCW 42.17.060, 42.17.080, or 42.17.090. "Independent expenditure" does not include: An internal political communication primarily limited to the contributors to a political party organization or political action committee, or the officers, management staff, and stockholders of a corporation or similar enterprise, or the members of a labor organization or other membership organization; or the rendering of personal services of the sort commonly performed by volunteer campaign workers, or incidental expenses personally incurred by volunteer campaign workers not in excess of fifty dollars personally paid for by the worker. "Volunteer services," for the purposes of this section, means services or labor for which the individual is not compensated by any person and that are performed outside the individual's normal working hours.
(2) Within five days after the date of making an independent campaign expenditure that by itself or when added to all other such independent campaign expenditures made during the same election campaign by the same person equals one hundred dollars or more, or within five days after the date of making an independent campaign expenditure for which no reasonable estimate of monetary value is practicable, whichever occurs first, the person who made the independent campaign expenditure shall file with the commission and the county elections officer of the county of residence for the candidate supported or opposed by the independent campaign expenditure (or in the case of an expenditure made in support of or in opposition to a local ballot proposition, the county of residence for the person making the expenditure) an initial report of all independent campaign expenditures made during the campaign prior to and including such date.
(3) At the following intervals each person who is required to file an initial report pursuant to subsection (2) of this section shall file with the commission and the county elections officer of the county of residence for the candidate supported or opposed by the independent campaign expenditure (or in the case of an expenditure made in support of or in opposition to a ballot proposition, the county of residence for the person making the expenditure) a further report of the independent campaign expenditures made since the date of the last report:
(a) On the twenty-first day and the seventh day preceding the date on which the election is held; and
(b) On the tenth day of the first month after the election; and
(c) On the tenth day of each month in which no other reports are required to be filed pursuant to this section. However, the further reports required by this subsection (3) shall only be filed if the reporting person has made an independent campaign expenditure since the date of the last previous report filed.
The report filed pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (3) shall be the final report, and upon submitting such final report the duties of the reporting person shall cease, and there shall be no obligation to make any further reports.
(4) All reports filed pursuant to this section shall be certified as correct by the reporting person.
(5) Each report required by subsections (2) and (3) of this section shall disclose for the period beginning at the end of the period for the last previous report filed or, in the case of an initial report, beginning at the time of the first independent campaign expenditure, and ending not more than one business day before the date the report is due:
(a) The name and address of the person filing the report;
(b) The name and address of each person to whom an independent campaign expenditure was made in the aggregate amount of more than fifty dollars, and the amount, date, and purpose of each such expenditure. If no reasonable estimate of the monetary value of a particular independent campaign expenditure is practicable, it is sufficient to report instead a precise description of services, property, or rights furnished through the expenditure and where appropriate to attach a copy of the item produced or distributed by the expenditure;
(c) The total sum of all independent campaign expenditures made during the campaign to date; and
(d) Such other information as shall be required by the commission by rule in conformance with the policies and purposes of this chapter.
Sec. 18. RCW 42.17.125 and 1993 c 2 s 21 are each amended to read as follows:
TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. Contributions received and reported in accordance with RCW 42.17.060 through 42.17.090 may only be transferred to the personal account of a candidate, or of a treasurer or other individual or expended for such individual's personal use under the following circumstances:
(1) Reimbursement for or loans to cover lost earnings incurred as a result of campaigning or services performed for the political committee. Such lost earnings shall be verifiable as unpaid salary, or when the individual is not salaried, as an amount not to exceed income received by the individual for services rendered during an appropriate, corresponding time period. All lost earnings incurred shall be documented and a record thereof shall be maintained by the individual or the individual's political committee. The political committee shall include a copy of such record when its expenditure for such reimbursement is reported pursuant to RCW 42.17.090.
(2) Reimbursement for direct out-of-pocket election campaign and postelection campaign related expenses made by the individual. To receive reimbursement from the political committee, the individual shall provide the political committee with written documentation as to the amount, date, and description of each expense, and the political committee shall include a copy of such information when its expenditure for such reimbursement is reported pursuant to RCW 42.17.090.
(3) Repayment of loans
made by the individual to political committees, which repayment shall be
reported pursuant to RCW 42.17.090. However, contributions may not be used to
reimburse a candidate for loans totaling more than three thousand dollars made
by the candidate to the candidate's own ((authorized)) political
committee or campaign.
CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES
Sec. 19. RCW 42.17.090 and 1993 c 256 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
CONTRIBUTOR'S EMPLOYER DISCLOSED. (1) Each report required under RCW 42.17.080 (1) and (2) shall disclose the following:
(a) The funds on hand at the beginning of the period;
(b) The name ((and)),
address, occupation, employer, and spouse's employer of each person who
has made one or more contributions during the period, together with the money
value and date of such contributions and the aggregate value of all
contributions received from each such person during the campaign or in the case
of a continuing political committee, the current calendar year((: PROVIDED,
That)). Pledges in the aggregate of less than one hundred dollars
from any one person need not be reported((: PROVIDED FURTHER, That)).
The income which results from a fund-raising activity conducted in
accordance with RCW 42.17.067 may be reported as one lump sum, with the
exception of that portion of such income which was received from persons whose
names and addresses are required to be included in the report required by RCW
42.17.067((: PROVIDED FURTHER, That)). Contributions of no more
than twenty-five dollars in the aggregate from any one person during the
election campaign may be reported as one lump sum so long as the campaign treasurer
maintains a separate and private list of the name, address, and amount of each
such contributor((: PROVIDED FURTHER, That)). The money value
of contributions of postage shall be the face value of such postage;
(c) Each loan, promissory note, or security instrument to be used by or for the benefit of the candidate or political committee made by any person, together with the names and addresses of the lender and each person liable directly, indirectly or contingently and the date and amount of each such loan, promissory note, or security instrument;
(d) All other contributions not otherwise listed or exempted;
(e) The name and address of each candidate or political committee to which any transfer of funds was made, together with the amounts and dates of such transfers;
(f) The name and address of each person to whom an expenditure was made in the aggregate amount of more than fifty dollars during the period covered by this report, and the amount, date, and purpose of each such expenditure. A candidate for state executive or state legislative office or the political committee of such a candidate shall report this information for an expenditure under one of the following categories, whichever is appropriate: (i) Expenditures for the election of the candidate; (ii) expenditures for nonreimbursed public office-related expenses; (iii) expenditures required to be reported under (e) of this subsection; or (iv) expenditures of surplus funds and other expenditures. The report of such a candidate or committee shall contain a separate total of expenditures for each category and a total sum of all expenditures. Other candidates and political committees need not report information regarding expenditures under the categories listed in (i) through (iv) of this subsection or under similar such categories unless required to do so by the commission by rule. The report of such an other candidate or committee shall also contain the total sum of all expenditures;
(g) The name and address of each person to whom any expenditure was made directly or indirectly to compensate the person for soliciting or procuring signatures on an initiative or referendum petition, the amount of such compensation to each such person, and the total of the expenditures made for this purpose. Such expenditures shall be reported under this subsection (1)(g) whether the expenditures are or are not also required to be reported under (f) of this subsection;
(h) The name and address of any person and the amount owed for any debt, obligation, note, unpaid loan, or other liability in the amount of more than two hundred fifty dollars or in the amount of more than fifty dollars that has been outstanding for over thirty days;
(i) The surplus or deficit of contributions over expenditures;
(j) The disposition made in accordance with RCW 42.17.095 of any surplus funds;
(k) Such other information as shall be required by the commission by rule in conformance with the policies and purposes of this chapter; and
(l) Funds received from a political committee not otherwise required to report under this chapter (a "nonreporting committee"). Such funds shall be forfeited to the state of Washington unless the nonreporting committee has filed or within ten days following such receipt files with the commission a statement disclosing: (i) Its name and address; (ii) the purposes of the nonreporting committee; (iii) the names, addresses, and titles of its officers or if it has no officers, the names, addresses, and titles of its responsible leaders; (iv) the name, office sought, and party affiliation of each candidate in the state of Washington whom the nonreporting committee is supporting, and, if such committee is supporting the entire ticket of any party, the name of the party; (v) the ballot proposition supported or opposed in the state of Washington, if any, and whether such committee is in favor of or opposed to such proposition; (vi) the name and address of each person residing in the state of Washington or corporation which has a place of business in the state of Washington who has made one or more contributions in the aggregate of more than twenty-five dollars to the nonreporting committee during the current calendar year, together with the money value and date of such contributions; (vii) the name and address of each person in the state of Washington to whom an expenditure was made by the nonreporting committee on behalf of a candidate or political committee in the aggregate amount of more than fifty dollars, the amount, date, and purpose of such expenditure, and the total sum of such expenditures; (viii) such other information as the commission may prescribe by rule, in keeping with the policies and purposes of this chapter. A nonreporting committee incurring an obligation to file additional reports in a calendar year may satisfy the obligation by filing with the commission a letter providing updating or amending information.
(2) The treasurer and the candidate shall certify the correctness of each report.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 20. A new section is added to chapter 42.17 RCW to read as follows:
CONTRIBUTOR'S EMPLOYER DISCLOSURE‑-MAY NOT RETAIN CONTRIBUTION. Candidates and political committees may not use contributions from persons who fail to furnish the information required to be reported under RCW 42.17.090(1)(b). The contributions shall be returned to the contributor unless the information is obtained within thirty days of receipt or the end of the election cycle, whichever occurs first.
Sec. 21. RCW 42.17.105 and 1991 c 157 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
LATE CONTRIBUTIONS. (1) Campaign treasurers shall prepare and deliver to the commission a special report regarding any contribution or aggregate of contributions which: Exceeds five hundred dollars; is from a single person or entity; and is received during a special reporting period.
Any political committee making a contribution or an aggregate of contributions to a single entity which exceeds five hundred dollars shall also prepare and deliver to the commission the special report if the contribution or aggregate of contributions is made during a special reporting period.
For the purposes of subsections (1) through (7) of this section:
(a) Each of the following intervals is a special reporting period: (i) The interval beginning after the period covered by the last report required by RCW 42.17.080 and 42.17.090 to be filed before a primary and concluding on the end of the day before that primary; and (ii) the interval composed of the twenty-one days preceding a general election; and
(b) An aggregate of contributions includes only those contributions received from a single entity during any one special reporting period or made by the contributing political committee to a single entity during any one special reporting period.
(2) If a campaign treasurer files a special report under this section for one or more contributions received from a single entity during a special reporting period, the treasurer shall also file a special report under this section for each subsequent contribution of any size which is received from that entity during the special reporting period. If a political committee files a special report under this section for a contribution or contributions made to a single entity during a special reporting period, the political committee shall also file a special report for each subsequent contribution of any size which is made to that entity during the special reporting period.
(3) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, the special report required by this section shall be delivered in written form, including but not limited to mailgram, telegram, or nightletter. The special report required of a contribution recipient by subsection (1) of this section shall be delivered to the commission within forty-eight hours of the time, or on the first working day after: The contribution exceeding five hundred dollars is received by the candidate or treasurer; the aggregate received by the candidate or treasurer first exceeds five hundred dollars; or the subsequent contribution that must be reported under subsection (2) of this section is received by the candidate or treasurer. The special report required of a contributor by subsection (1) of this section or RCW 42.17.175 shall be delivered to the commission, and the candidate or political committee to whom the contribution or contributions are made, within twenty-four hours of the time, or on the first working day after: The contribution is made; the aggregate of contributions made first exceeds five hundred dollars; or the subsequent contribution that must be reported under subsection (2) of this section is made.
(4) The special report may be transmitted orally by telephone to the commission to satisfy the delivery period required by subsection (3) of this section if the written form of the report is also mailed to the commission and postmarked within the delivery period established in subsection (3) of this section.
(5) The special report shall include at least:
(a) The amount of the contribution or contributions;
(b) The date or dates of receipt;
(c) The name and address of the donor;
(d) The name and address of the recipient; and
(e) Any other information the commission may by rule require.
(6) Contributions reported under this section shall also be reported as required by other provisions of this chapter.
(7) The commission shall publish daily a summary of the special reports made under this section and RCW 42.17.175.
(8) It is a violation
of this chapter for any person to make, or for any candidate or political
committee to accept from any one person, contributions reportable under RCW
42.17.090 in the aggregate exceeding fifty thousand dollars for any campaign
for state-wide office or exceeding five thousand dollars for any other campaign
subject to the provisions of this chapter within twenty-one days of a general
election. This subsection does not apply to contributions made by, or accepted
from, a ((major Washington state)) bona fide political party as
defined in ((RCW 29.01.090)) this chapter, excluding the county
central committee or legislative district committee.
(9) Contributions governed by this section include, but are not limited to, contributions made or received indirectly through a third party or entity whether the contributions are or are not reported to the commission as earmarked contributions under RCW 42.17.135.
Sec. 22. RCW 42.17.640 and 1993 c 2 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
POLITICAL PARTY AND LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS LIMITS‑-INTERNAL REFERENCE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. (1) No person, other than a bona fide political party or a political committee established by a caucus of the state legislature, may make contributions to a candidate for a state legislative office that in the aggregate exceed five hundred dollars or to a candidate for a state office other than a state legislative office that in the aggregate exceed one thousand dollars for each election in which the candidate is on the ballot or appears as a write-in candidate. Contributions made with respect to a primary may not be made after the date of the primary. Contributions made with respect to a general election may not be made after the final day of the applicable election cycle.
(2) No person, other than a bona fide political party or a political committee established by a caucus of the state legislature, may make contributions to a state official against whom recall charges have been filed, or to a political committee having the expectation of making expenditures in support of the recall of the state official, during a recall campaign that in the aggregate exceed five hundred dollars if for a state legislative office or one thousand dollars if for a state office other than a state legislative office.
(3)(a) Notwithstanding
subsection (1) of this section, no bona fide political party ((or caucus of
the state legislature)) may make contributions to a candidate during an
election cycle that in the aggregate exceed (i) ((fifty)) ten
cents multiplied by the number of eligible registered voters in the
jurisdiction from which the candidate is elected if the contributor is ((a
caucus of the state legislature or)) the governing body of a state
organization, or (ii) ((twenty-five)) five cents multiplied by
the number of registered voters in the jurisdiction from which the candidate is
elected if the contributor is a county central committee or a legislative
district committee.
(b) No candidate may
accept contributions from a county central committee or a legislative district
committee during an election cycle that when combined with contributions from
other county central committees or legislative district committees would in the
aggregate exceed ((twenty-five)) five cents times the number of
registered voters in the jurisdiction from which the candidate is elected.
(c) No political committee established by a caucus of the state legislature may make contributions to a candidate during an election cycle that in the aggregate exceed one thousand dollars for legislative candidates and two thousand dollars for state-wide candidates.
(4)(a) Notwithstanding
subsection (2) of this section, no bona fide political party ((or caucus of
the state legislature)) may make contributions to a state official against
whom recall charges have been filed, or to a political committee having the
expectation of making expenditures in support of the state official, during a
recall campaign that in the aggregate exceed (i) ((fifty)) ten
cents multiplied by the number of eligible registered voters in the
jurisdiction entitled to recall the state official if the contributor is ((a
caucus of the state legislature of [or])) the governing body of a state
organization, or (ii) ((twenty-five)) five cents multiplied by
the number of registered voters in the jurisdiction from which the candidate is
elected if the contributor is a county central committee or a legislative
district committee.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section, no political committee established by a caucus of the state legislature may make contributions to a state official against whom recall charges have been filed, or to a political committee having the expectation of making expenditures in support of the state official, during a recall campaign that in the aggregate exceed two thousand dollars.
(c) No state
official against whom recall charges have been filed, no authorized committee
of the official, and no political committee having the expectation of making
expenditures in support of the recall of a state official may accept
contributions from a county central committee or a legislative district
committee during an election cycle that when combined with contributions from
other county central committees or legislative district committees would in the
aggregate exceed ((twenty-five)) five cents multiplied by the
number of registered voters in the jurisdiction from which the candidate is
elected.
(5) Notwithstanding subsections (1) through (4) of this section, no person other than an individual, bona fide political party, or political committee established by a caucus of the state legislature may make contributions reportable under this chapter to a political committee established by a caucus of the state legislature that in the aggregate exceed five hundred dollars in a calendar year or to a bona fide political party that in the aggregate exceed two thousand five hundred dollars in a calendar year. This subsection does not apply to loans made in the ordinary course of business.
(6) For the purposes of RCW 42.17.640 through 42.17.790, a contribution to the authorized political committee of a candidate, or of a state official against whom recall charges have been filed, is considered to be a contribution to the candidate or state official.
(7) A contribution received within the twelve-month period after a recall election concerning a state office is considered to be a contribution during that recall campaign if the contribution is used to pay a debt or obligation incurred to influence the outcome of that recall campaign.
(8) The contributions
allowed by subsection (((2))) (3) of this section are in addition
to those allowed by subsection (1) of this section, and the contributions
allowed by subsection (4) of this section are in addition to those allowed by
subsection (((3))) (2) of this section.
(9) RCW 42.17.640 through 42.17.790 apply to a special election conducted to fill a vacancy in a state office. However, the contributions made to a candidate or received by a candidate for a primary or special election conducted to fill such a vacancy shall not be counted toward any of the limitations that apply to the candidate or to contributions made to the candidate for any other primary or election.
(10) Notwithstanding the other subsections of this section, no corporation or business entity not doing business in Washington state, no labor union with fewer than ten members who reside in Washington state, and no political committee that has not received contributions of ten dollars or more from at least ten persons registered to vote in Washington state during the preceding one hundred eighty days may make contributions reportable under this chapter to a candidate, to a state official against whom recall charges have been filed, or to a political committee having the expectation of making expenditures in support of the recall of the official. This subsection does not apply to loans made in the ordinary course of business.
(11) Notwithstanding the other subsections of this section, no county central committee or legislative district committee may make contributions reportable under this chapter to a candidate, state official against whom recall charges have been filed, or political committee having the expectation of making expenditures in support of the recall of a state official if the county central committee or legislative district committee is outside of the jurisdiction entitled to elect the candidate or recall the state official.
(12) No person may accept contributions that exceed the contribution limitations provided in this section.
(13) A person who has made an independent expenditure for a candidate or ballot proposition campaign may not make a direct contribution within the same election cycle to the same candidate or ballot proposition committee. No person may accept a contribution that the person knows was made in violation of this subsection.
Sec. 23. RCW 42.17.128 and 1993 c 2 s 24 are each amended to read as follows:
PUBLIC CAMPAIGN
FINANCING. Public funds, whether derived through taxes, fees, penalties, or
any other sources, shall not be used to finance political campaigns for state
((or local)) office.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 24. A new section is added to chapter 42.17 RCW to read as follows:
LOCAL FAIR CAMPAIGN PRACTICES. Local agencies may enact provisions for the regulation of fair campaign practices for local elections, not prohibited by state law and rules adopted under this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 25. STUDY. The legislature finds that campaign spending limits, public financing, and variable contribution limits could be used to advance fair campaign practices, however the imposition of spending limits raises certain constitutional questions. Similar constitutional questions apply to the imposition of contribution limits on ballot measure campaigns. The senate committee on law and justice and the house of representatives committee on state government shall jointly study the issue of campaign spending limits and report to the legislature by December 1, 1995, on the desirability of campaign spending limits, public financing of campaigns, variable contribution limits, legal and political barriers to instituting public financing of campaigns, and whether any local agencies chose to enact public campaign financing. The committees shall also examine current functions of the initiative process, the financing of state ballot measures, and related matters to assure that the initiative process is used responsibly by and for the interests of the citizens of the state of Washington.
FAIR CAMPAIGN
Sec. 26. RCW 42.17.510 and 1993 c 2 s 22 are each amended to read as follows:
ADVERTISING. (1) All written political advertising, whether relating to candidates or ballot propositions, shall include the sponsor's name and address. All radio and television political advertising, whether relating to candidates or ballot propositions, shall include the sponsor's name. The use of an assumed name shall be unlawful. The party with which a candidate files shall be clearly identified in political advertising for partisan office.
(2) In addition to the
materials required by subsection (1) of this section, all political advertising
undertaken as an independent expenditure by a person ((or entity)) other
than a political party organization must include the following statement
on the communication "NOTICE TO VOTERS (Required by law): This
advertisement is not authorized or approved by any candidate. It is paid for
by (name, address, city, state)." If the advertisement is undertaken by a
nonindividual, then the following notation must also be included: "Top
Five Contributors," followed by a listing of the names of the five persons
((or entities)) making the largest contributions reportable under this
chapter during the twelve-month period before the date of the advertisement.
(3) The statements and listings of contributors required by subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall:
(a) Appear on each page or fold of the written communication in at least ten-point type, or in type at least ten percent of the largest size type used in a written communication directed at more than one voter, such as a billboard or poster, whichever is larger;
(b) Not be subject to the half-tone or screening process;
(c) Be in a printed or drawn box set apart from any other printed matter; and
(d) Be clearly spoken on any broadcast advertisement.
(4) Political yard signs are exempt from the requirement of subsections (1) and (2) of this section that the name and address of the sponsor of political advertising be listed on the advertising. In addition, the public disclosure commission shall, by rule, exempt from the identification requirements of subsections (1) and (2) of this section forms of political advertising such as campaign buttons, balloons, pens, pencils, sky-writing, inscriptions, and other forms of advertising where identification is impractical.
(5) For the purposes of this section, "yard sign" means any outdoor sign with dimensions no greater than eight feet by four feet.
(6) Advertising by a candidate's political committee must be personally endorsed and approved by the candidate. The commission shall adopt rules to implement this section.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 27. A new section is added to chapter 42.17 RCW to read as follows:
TELEPHONE POLLS. A person conducting a telephone poll for the purposes of a candidate's campaign shall identify the sponsor of the poll.
Sec. 28. RCW 29.85.060 and 1991 c 81 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
HINDERING OR BRIBING
VOTER. (1) Any person who uses menace, force, threat, or any unlawful
means ((towards any voter to hinder or deter such a voter from voting)),
or directly or indirectly offers any bribe, reward, or any thing of value ((to
a voter)), to hinder or deter any voter from voting, or in exchange
for the voter's vote for or against any person or ballot measure, or authorizes
any person to do so, is guilty of a class C felony punishable under RCW
9A.20.021.
(2) In-kind services such as transportation or child care or other services intended to enable the voter to get to his or her polling place but not intended to influence the voter's vote may be provided and are not prohibited under this section.
PUBLIC OFFICE FUNDS
Sec. 29. RCW 43.290.020 and 1991 c 24 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND PROTOCOL. (1) The office of international relations and protocol may:
(((1))) (a)
Create temporary advisory committees as necessary to deal with specific
international issues. Advisory committee representation may include external
organizations such as the Seattle consular corps, world affairs councils,
public ports, world trade organizations, private nonprofit organizations
dealing with international education or international environmental issues,
organizations concerned with international understanding, businesses with
experience in international relations, or other organizations deemed
appropriate by the director.
(((2))) (b)
Accept or request grants or gifts from citizens and other private sources to be
used to defray the costs of appropriate hosting of foreign dignitaries,
including appropriate gift-giving and reciprocal gift-giving, the purchase
of meals for foreign dignitaries visiting the state, who are received by the
state of Washington or a state official acting in an official capacity, payment
of expenses of a reception in honor of such visitors, or other activities
of the office. The office shall open and maintain a bank account into which it
shall deposit all money received under this subsection (1)(b). Such
money and the interest accruing thereon shall not constitute public funds,
shall be kept segregated and apart from funds of the state, and shall not be
subject to appropriation or allotment by the state or subject to chapter 43.88
RCW.
(2) The office shall:
(a) Establish written guidelines for determining the procedure and criteria for state officials to request the expenditure of funds from the account created by this section. Such expenditures shall not be considered income or gifts to the requesting state official or officials.
(b) Report all contributions and expenses to the public disclosure commission quarterly.
Sec. 30. RCW 42.17.710 and 1993 c 2 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
CONTRIBUTIONS TO PUBLIC
OFFICE FUNDS‑-TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. During the period beginning on the
thirtieth day before the date a regular legislative session convenes and
continuing thirty days past the date of final adjournment, and during the
period beginning on the date a special legislative session convenes and continuing
through the date that session adjourns, no state official or a person employed
by or acting on behalf of a state official or state legislator may solicit or
accept contributions to a ((public office fund, to a)) candidate or ((authorized))
candidate's political committee, or to retire a campaign debt.
Sec. 31. RCW 42.17.395 and 1989 c 175 s 91 are each amended to read as follows:
ENFORCEMENT. (1) The commission may (a) determine whether an actual violation of this chapter has occurred; and (b) issue and enforce an appropriate order following such determination.
(2) The commission, in cases where it chooses to determine whether an actual violation of this chapter has occurred, shall hold a hearing pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW, to make such determination. Any order that the commission issues under this section shall be pursuant to such hearing.
(3) In lieu of holding a hearing or issuing an order under this section, the commission may refer the matter to the attorney general or other enforcement agency as provided in RCW 42.17.360.
(4) The person against
whom an order is directed under this section shall be designated as the
respondent. The order may require the respondent to cease and desist from the
activity that constitutes a violation and in addition, or alternatively, may
impose one or more of the remedies provided in RCW 42.17.390(((1) (b), (c),
(d), or (e))) (2), (3), (4), or (5): PROVIDED, That no individual
penalty assessed by the commission may exceed one thousand dollars, and in any
case where multiple violations are involved in a single complaint or hearing,
the maximum aggregate penalty may not exceed two thousand five hundred dollars.
(5) An order issued by the commission under this section shall be subject to judicial review under the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW. If the commission's order is not satisfied and no petition for review is filed within thirty days as provided in RCW 34.05.542, the commission may petition a court of competent jurisdiction of any county in which a petition for review could be filed under that section, for an order of enforcement. Proceedings in connection with the commission's petition shall be in accordance with RCW 42.17.397.
Sec. 32. RCW 42.17.095 and 1993 c 2 s 20 are each amended to read as follows:
PUBLIC OFFICE EXPENSES‑-TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. The surplus funds of a candidate, or of a political committee supporting or opposing a candidate, may only be disposed of in any one or more of the following ways:
(1) Return the surplus to a contributor in an amount not to exceed that contributor's original contribution;
(2) Transfer the surplus to the candidate's personal account as reimbursement for lost earnings incurred as a result of that candidate's election campaign. Such lost earnings shall be verifiable as unpaid salary or, when the candidate is not salaried, as an amount not to exceed income received by the candidate for services rendered during an appropriate, corresponding time period. All lost earnings incurred shall be documented and a record thereof shall be maintained by the candidate or the candidate's political committee. The committee shall include a copy of such record when its expenditure for such reimbursement is reported pursuant to RCW 42.17.090;
(3) Transfer the surplus to a political party or to a political committee established by a caucus of the state legislature;
(4) Donate the surplus to a charitable organization registered in accordance with chapter 19.09 RCW;
(5) Transmit the surplus to the state treasurer for deposit in the general fund; or
(6) Hold the surplus in the campaign depository or depositories designated in accordance with RCW 42.17.050 for possible use in a future election campaign for the same office last sought by the candidate or for nonreimbursed public office related expenses and report any such disposition in accordance with RCW 42.17.090: PROVIDED, That if the candidate subsequently announces or publicly files for office, information as appropriate is reported to the commission in accordance with RCW 42.17.040 through 42.17.090. If a subsequent office is not sought the surplus held shall be disposed of in accordance with the requirements of this section.
(7) No candidate or ((authorized))
candidate's political committee may transfer funds to any other
candidate or other political committee.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 33. A new section is added to chapter 42.17 RCW to read as follows:
PUBLIC OFFICE FUND. No state official may receive contributions or gifts, nor directly or indirectly maintain a public office fund, or other similar fund by any other name, for the purpose of making expenditures for nonreimbursed public office related expenses or community activities except as provided by RCW 42.17.095, 44.04.060, 44.04.070, 43.290.020, 43.147.010, or 42.52.150.
LOBBYIST REPORTING CHANGES
NEW SECTION. Sec. 34. EMPLOYEE-LOBBYISTS. (1) Before doing any lobbying, or within two weeks after being employed or assigned as a lobbyist, whichever is sooner, an employee-lobbyist shall file with the commission a registration statement. The registration shall include the following:
(a) The lobbyist's name, business address, and telephone number;
(b) The name, business address, and telephone number of the lobbyist employer;
(c) The terms of the employee's compensation for lobbying, including the nature and extent of reimbursement for expenses; and
(d) A statement describing the extent to which lobbying comprises the employee's duties for the employer.
(2) The lobbyist's registration shall be accompanied by a written statement:
(a) Confirming the lobbyist's employment or assignment by the employer's chief executive officer or similarly authorized individual;
(b) Describing the employer's principal product, service, or business activity;
(c) Describing the subject matters regarding which lobbying will be conducted on behalf of the employer.
The name, address, and telephone number of the person who will have custody of the records required to be kept under this chapter on behalf of the lobbyist employer.
If the employer has a connected, related, or closely affiliated political committee, the name of that committee.
If the employer is an entity that as a representative entity lobbies for individuals, businesses, groups, associations, or organizations, the name and address of each member of the entity or person represented by the entity whose fees, dues, payments, or other consideration paid to the entity during either of the previous two years have exceeded five hundred dollars or who is obligated to or has agreed to pay fees, dues, payments, or other consideration exceeding five hundred dollars to the entity during the current year.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 35. SEPARATE REGISTRATION. A lobbyist who receives or is to receive compensation from more than one employer for lobbying services with respect to the same legislation or subject of rule making shall file a separate registration for each employer.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 36. ANNUAL REGISTRATION. Every lobbyist registered with the commission shall file an annual registration, revised as appropriate, before the second Monday in January. Failure to do so shall terminate the lobbyist's registration.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 37. CHANGE IN STATUS. A lobbyist shall notify the commission within two weeks of a material change in the status of his or her registration. As used in this section, "material change" means the following:
(1) A termination of employment as a lobbyist;
(2) A change in the terms of compensation provided in a prior filing with the commission;
(3) A change in the name or address of the lobbyist or a lobbyist employer;
(4) A change in status from contract-lobbyist to employee-lobbyist or vice-versa;
(5) A change in status with regard to a proprietor, officer, partner, or employee of a contract lobbyist.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 38. CONTRACT-LOBBYISTS. (1) Before doing any lobbying, or within two weeks after contracting to provide lobbying services to any person, whichever is sooner, a contract-lobbyist shall file with the commission a registration statement. The registration shall include the following:
(a) The lobbyist's name, business address, and telephone number;
(b) The name of any individual who is a proprietor, officer, partner, or employee of the contract lobbyist, or who is authorized to lobby on behalf of the contract-lobbyist's employers;
(c) The name, business address, and telephone number of the lobbyist employer;
(d) The terms of the contract-lobbyist's compensation for lobbying, including the nature and extent of reimbursement for expenses;
(e) The name, address, and telephone number of the person who will have custody of the records required to be kept by the contract-lobbyist under this chapter;
(f) The name and address of any other lobbyist the contract-lobbyist has agreed to compensate in exchange for assisting with lobbying on behalf of the employer named in the registration.
(2) The lobbyist's registration shall be accompanied by a written statement:
(a) Confirming the lobbyist's contract by the employer's chief executive officer or similarly authorized individual;
(b) Describing the employer's principal product, service, or business activity;
(c) Describing the subject matters regarding which lobbying will be conducted on behalf of the employer.
The name, address, and telephone number of the person who will have custody of the records required to be kept under this chapter on behalf of the lobbyist employer.
If the employer has a connected, related, or closely affiliated political committee, the name of that committee.
If the employer is an entity that as a representative entity lobbies for individuals, businesses, groups, associations, or organizations, the name and address of each member of the entity or person represented by the entity whose fees, dues, payments, or other consideration paid to the entity during either of the previous two years have exceeded five hundred dollars or who is obligated to or has agreed to pay fees, dues, payments, or other consideration exceeding five hundred dollars to the entity during the current year.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 39. LOBBYIST EMPLOYER REPORTING. (1) Each employer of a lobbyist registered under this chapter shall file a semiannual report. Reports shall be filed as specified in subsection (2) of this section.
(2) Employer reports shall include the following:
(a) The employer's name, business address, and telephone number;
(b) The name of lobbyists registered on behalf of the employer;
(c) The name and address of each political committee associated, affiliated, or sponsored by the employer and total contributions made by the committee during the reporting period;
(d) The name of each legislator, state elected official, state officer or employee, successful candidate for state office, and any member of the immediate family of those persons to whom the employer has paid any compensation in the amount of five hundred dollars or more during the reporting period for personal employment or professional services, including professional services rendered by a corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, union, or other entity in which the person holds any office, directorship, or any general partnership interest, or an ownership interest of ten percent or more, the value of the compensation in accordance with the reporting provisions set out in RCW 42.17.241(2), and the consideration given or performed in exchange for the compensation;
(e) The name of each legislator, state elected official, state officer or employee, successful candidate for state office, and any member of the immediate family of those persons for whom the lobbyist employer incurred expenditures, directly or indirectly, through a lobbyist or otherwise. For purposes of this subsection, "expenditure" shall not include any expenditure made by the employer in the ordinary course of business if the expenditure is not made for the purpose of influencing, honoring, or benefiting the recipient of the expenditure or the member of his or her family as an official or candidate;
(f) The total expenditures made during the reporting period by the employer for lobbying purposes, whether through or on behalf of a lobbyist or otherwise. As used in this section, "expenditures" includes amounts paid or incurred during the reporting period for (i) political advertising as defined in RCW 42.17.020; and (ii) public relations, telemarketing, polling, or similar activities if such activities, directly or indirectly, are intended, designed, or calculated to influence legislation or the adoption or rejection of any rule, standard, or rate by any agency under the administrative procedure act. The report shall specify the amount, the person to whom the amount was paid, and a brief description of the activity;
(g) Total amount or value of contributions made during the reporting period by the employer to any candidate for state or local office, any political committee whose purpose is to support or oppose the election of one or more candidate for state or local office, a political committee established by a caucus of the state legislature, a political party, or any political committee formed for the purpose of supporting or opposing a state or local ballot proposition or any grass roots lobby;
(h) Total amounts of compensation for lobbying during the reporting period paid or owed to lobbyists employed, hired, contracted, retained, or assigned by the employer;
(i) Total amount for any "special lobbying activities" as designated by section 40 of this act;
(j) Total amount of reimbursement for expenses incurred in connection with lobbying during the reporting period paid or owed to lobbyists employed, hired, contracted, retained, or assigned by the employer;
(k) Total amount for entertainment in connection with lobbying during the reporting period paid or owed to lobbyists employed, hired, contracted, retained, or assigned by the employer;
(l) Total amount of expenditures by the employer or value of gifts during the reporting period to legislators, legislative staff, state elected officials, state officers and employees, or members of their immediate families;
(m) The name and amount paid each employee or other person to or for whom fees, salary, or wages of five hundred dollars or more was spent for lobbying or professional assistance for lobbying. This provision shall not apply to persons to the extent that their lobbying or assistance is the result of an appointment or written request of the legislature or agency to participate in a study or provide expertise;
(n) Such other information as the commission prescribes by rule in keeping with the policies and purposes of this chapter.
(3) The compensation and expenditures to be reported under this section are those whose principal purpose is for lobbying, and those that would not have been made but for lobbying. The amounts or values required to be reported shall include cash, the fair market value of goods, services, or tangible or intangible property.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 40. REPORTING. (1) A person who spends twenty-five hundred dollars or more to sponsor a special lobbying activity other than that covered by RCW 42.17.200 shall report the information required in this section.
(2) For purposes of this section: (a) "Special lobbying activities" includes but is not limited to receptions, rallies, demonstrations, transportation of members or supporters to facilitate individual or group lobbying, dinners, conventions, mass gatherings, parades, and mailings; and (b) "sponsor" means the person or entity who pays for, organizes, coordinates, or directs a lobbying activity.
(3) Within two weeks after the lobbying activity, the sponsor shall file with the commission a report including the following:
(a) The name and address of the sponsor;
(b) The name and address of the principal officers of the sponsor;
(c) A description of the activity and the place and date on which it was conducted;
(d) The name, address, and amount contributed by each person who contributed money, goods, or services with a value of one hundred dollars or more;
(e) The total of all expenditures made to sponsor or support the activity. Expenditures shall be listed in the following categories:
(i) Salaries or compensation of persons paid to plan, coordinate, operate, or participate in the event;
(ii) Advertising and printing;
(iii) Transportation;
(iv) Food, beverages, and catering;
(v) Lodging;
(vi) Rent of buildings or equipment; and
(vii) Other expenditures; and
(f) Such other relevant information as the commission may require.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 41. Sections 34 through 40 of this act are each added to chapter 42.17 RCW.
Sec. 42. RCW 42.17.160 and 1982 c 147 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:
REGISTRATION AND REPORTING. The following persons and activities shall be exempt from registration and reporting under RCW 42.17.150, 42.17.170, and 42.17.200:
(1) Persons who limit their lobbying activities to appearing before public sessions of committees of the legislature, or public hearings of state agencies;
(2) Activities by lobbyists or other persons whose participation has been solicited by an agency under RCW 34.05.310(2);
(3) News or feature reporting activities and editorial comment by working members of the press, radio, or television and the publication or dissemination thereof by a newspaper, book publisher, regularly published periodical, radio station, or television station;
(((3))) (4)
Persons who lobby without compensation or other consideration for acting as a
lobbyist: PROVIDED, Such person makes no expenditure for or on behalf of any member
of the legislature or elected official or public officer or employee of the
state of Washington in connection with such lobbying. The exemption contained
in this subsection is intended to permit and encourage citizens of this state
to lobby any legislator, public official, or state agency without incurring any
registration or reporting obligation provided they do not exceed the limits
stated above. Any person exempt under this subsection (((3))) (4)
may at his or her option register and report under this chapter;
(((4))) (5)
Persons who restrict their lobbying activities to no more than four days or
parts thereof during any three-month period and whose total expenditures during
such three-month period for or on behalf of any one or more members of the
legislature or state elected officials or public officers or employees of the
state of Washington in connection with such lobbying do not exceed twenty-five
(([dollars])) dollars: PROVIDED, That the commission shall
promulgate regulations to require disclosure by persons exempt under this
subsection or their employers or entities which sponsor or coordinate the
lobbying activities of such persons if it determines that such regulations are
necessary to prevent frustration of the purposes of this chapter. Any person
exempt under this subsection (((4))) (5) may at his or her
option register and report under this chapter;
(((5))) (6)
The governor;
(((6))) (7)
The lieutenant governor;
(((7))) (8)
Except as provided by RCW 42.17.190(1), members of the legislature;
(((8))) (9)
Except as provided by RCW 42.17.190(1), persons employed by the legislature for
the purpose of aiding in the preparation or enactment of legislation or the
performance of legislative duties;
(((9))) (10)
Elected officials, and officers and employees of any agency reporting under RCW
42.17.190(4) as now or hereafter amended.
Sec. 43. RCW 42.17.170 and 1991 sp.s. c 18 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
MONTHLY PERIODIC REPORT. (1) Any lobbyist registered under RCW 42.17.150 and any person who lobbies shall file with the commission periodic reports of his activities signed by the lobbyist. The reports shall be made in the form and manner prescribed by the commission. They shall be due monthly and shall be filed within fifteen days after the last day of the calendar month covered by the report.
(2) Each such monthly periodic report shall contain:
(a) The totals of all
expenditures for lobbying activities made or incurred by such lobbyist or on
behalf of such lobbyist by the lobbyist's employer during the period covered by
the report. Such totals for lobbying activities shall be segregated according
to financial category, including compensation; food and refreshments; living accommodations;
advertising; travel; contributions; and other expenses or services. Each
individual expenditure of more than twenty-five dollars for entertainment shall
be identified by date, place, amount, and the names of all persons in the group
partaking in or of such entertainment including any portion thereof
attributable to the lobbyist's participation therein, ((without)) and
shall include amounts actually expended on each person where calculable, or
allocating any portion of ((such)) the expenditure to individual
participants. ((However, if the expenditure for a single hosted reception
is more than one hundred dollars per person partaking therein, the report shall
specify the per person amount, which shall be determined by dividing the total
amount of the expenditure by the total number of persons partaking in the
reception.))
Notwithstanding the foregoing, lobbyists are not required to report the following:
(i) Unreimbursed personal living and travel expenses not incurred directly for lobbying;
(ii) Any expenses incurred for his or her own living accommodations;
(iii) Any expenses incurred for his or her own travel to and from hearings of the legislature;
(iv) Any expenses incurred for telephone, and any office expenses, including rent and salaries and wages paid for staff and secretarial assistance.
(b) In the case of a lobbyist employed by more than one employer, the proportionate amount of such expenditures in each category incurred on behalf of each of his employers.
(c) An itemized listing of each such expenditure, whether contributed by the lobbyist personally or delivered or transmitted by the lobbyist, in the nature of a contribution of money or of tangible or intangible personal property to any candidate, elected official, or officer or employee of any agency, or any political committee supporting or opposing any ballot proposition, or for or on behalf of any candidate, elected official, or officer or employee of any agency, or any political committee supporting or opposing any ballot proposition. All contributions made to, or for the benefit of, any candidate, elected official, or officer or employee of any agency, or any political committee supporting or opposing any ballot proposition shall be identified by date, amount, and the name of the candidate, elected official, or officer or employee of any agency, or any political committee supporting or opposing any ballot proposition receiving, or to be benefited by each such contribution.
(d) The subject matter of proposed legislation or other legislative activity or rule-making under chapter 34.05 RCW, the state Administrative Procedure Act, and the state agency considering the same, which the lobbyist has been engaged in supporting or opposing during the reporting period, unless exempt under RCW 42.17.160(2).
(e) Such other information relevant to lobbying activities as the commission shall by rule prescribe. Information supporting such activities as are required to be reported is subject to audit by the commission.
(f) ((A listing of each
gift, as defined in RCW 42.17.020, made to a state elected official or
executive state officer or to a member of the immediate family of such an
official or officer. Such a gift shall be separately identified by the date it
was given, the approximate value of the gift, and the name of the recipient.
However, for a hosted reception where the average per person amount is reported
under (a) of this subsection, the approximate value for the gift of partaking
in the event is such average per person amount. The commission shall adopt
forms to be used for reporting the giving of gifts under this subsection
(2)(f). The forms shall be designed to permit a lobbyist to report on a
separate form for each recipient the reportable gifts given to that recipient during
the reporting period or, alternatively, to report on one form all reportable
gifts given by the lobbyist during the reporting period)) A listing of
each payment for an item specified in RCW 42.52.010(9)(d) and (f) in excess of
fifty dollars. Each item shall be identified by recipient, date, and
approximate value of the item.
(g) The total expenditures made during the reporting period by the lobbyist for lobbying purposes, whether through or on behalf of a lobbyist or otherwise. As used in this section, "expenditures" includes amounts paid or incurred during the reporting period for (i) political advertising as defined in RCW 42.17.020; and (ii) public relations, telemarketing, polling, or similar activities if such activities, directly or indirectly, are intended, designed, or calculated to influence legislation or the adoption or rejection of a rule, standard, or rate by an agency under the administrative procedure act. The report shall specify the amount, the person to whom the amount was paid, and a brief description of the activity.
(3) If a state elected
official or a member of such an official's immediate family is identified by a
lobbyist in such a report as having received from the lobbyist ((a gift, as
defined in RCW 42.17.020)) an item specified in RCW 42.52.010(9)(d) and
(f) from the lobbyist, the lobbyist shall transmit to the official a copy
of the completed form used to identify the gift in the report at the same time
the report is filed with the commission.
(4) The commission may adopt rules to vary the content of lobbyist reports to address specific circumstances, consistent with this section.
Sec. 44. RCW 42.17.132 and 1993 c 2 s 25 are each amended to read as follows:
MAILING. During the
twelve-month period preceding the expiration of a state legislator's term in
office, no incumbent to that office may mail to a constituent at public expense
a letter, newsletter, brochure, or other piece of literature that is not in direct
response to that constituent's request for a response or for information.
However, one mailing mailed within thirty days after the start of a regular
legislative session and one mailing mailed within sixty days after the end of a
regular legislative session of identical newsletters to constituents are
permitted. A violation of this section constitutes use of the facilities of a
public office for the purpose of assisting a campaign under ((RCW 42.17.130))
RCW 42.52.180.
The house of representatives and senate shall specifically limit expenditures per member for the total cost of mailings, including but not limited to production costs, printing costs, and postage.
VOTERS' AND CANDIDATES' PAMPHLET
Sec. 45. RCW 43.07.310 and 1992 c 163 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
VOTERS' PAMPHLET‑-ELECTRONIC. The secretary of state, through the division of elections, is responsible for the following duties, as prescribed by Title 29 RCW:
(1) The filing, verification of signatures, and certification of state initiative, referendum, and recall petitions;
(2)(a) The production and distribution of a state voters' and candidates' pamphlet for the primary election and general election;
(b) In addition to the written pamphlet, the secretary of state may produce the state voters' and candidates' pamphlet in electronic format. If the secretary of state produces the pamphlet in video format, closed captioning shall be used;
(3) The examination, testing, and certification of voting equipment, voting devices, and vote-tallying systems;
(4) The administration, canvassing, and certification of the presidential primary, state primaries, and state general elections;
(5) The administration of motor voter and other voter registration and voter outreach programs;
(6) The training, testing, and certification of state and local elections personnel as established in RCW 29.60.030;
(7) The training of state and local party observers required by RCW 29.60.040;
(8) The conduct of postelection reviews as established in RCW 29.60.070; and
(9) Other duties that may be prescribed by the legislature.
Sec. 46. RCW 29.80.010 and 1987 c 295 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:
CANDIDATES' PAMPHLET. As soon as possible before each state primary and general election at which federal or state officials are to be elected, the secretary of state shall publish and mail to each individual place of residence of the state a candidates' pamphlet containing photographs and campaign statements of eligible nominees who desire to participate therein, together with a campaign mailing address and telephone number submitted by the nominee at the nominee's option, and in even-numbered years containing a description of the office of precinct committee officer and its duties, in order that voters will understand that the office is a state office and will be found on the ballot of the forthcoming general election. In odd-numbered years no candidates' pamphlet may be published unless an election is to be held to fill a vacancy in one or more of the following state-wide elective offices: United States senator, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, commissioner of public lands, insurance commissioner, or justice of the supreme court.
Sec. 47. RCW 29.80.020 and 1984 c 54 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
CANDIDATE STATEMENTS.
At a time to be determined by the secretary of state((, but in any event not
later than forty-five days)) before the applicable state primary and
general election, each nominee for the office of United States senator, United
States representative, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state
treasurer, state auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public
instruction, commissioner of public lands, insurance commissioner, state
senator, state representative, justice of the supreme court, judge of the court
of appeals, or judge of the superior court may file with the secretary of state
a written statement advocating his or her candidacy accompanied by the campaign
mailing address and telephone number submitted by the nominee at the nominee's
option, and a photograph not more than five years old and of a size and quality
that the secretary of state determines to be suitable for reproduction in the
voters' pamphlet. The maximum number of words for the statements shall be
determined according to the offices sought as follows: State representative,
one hundred words; state senator, judge of the superior court, judge of the
court of appeals, justice of the supreme court, and all state offices voted
upon throughout the state, except that of governor, two hundred words; United
States senator, United States representative, and governor, three hundred
words. No such statement or photograph may be printed in the candidates'
pamphlet for any person who is the sole nominee for any nonpartisan or judicial
office.
Sec. 48. RCW 29.81.010 and 1984 c 54 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
The voters' pamphlet shall contain as to each state measure to be voted upon, the following in the order set forth in this section:
(1) Upon the top portion of the first two opposing pages relating to the measure and not exceeding one-third of the total printing area shall appear:
(a) The legal identification of the measure by serial designation and number;
(b) The official ballot title of the measure;
(c) A brief statement explaining the law as it presently exists;
(d) A brief statement explaining the effect of the proposed measure should it be approved into law;
(e) The total number of votes cast for and against the measure in both the state senate and house of representatives if the measure has been passed by the legislature;
(f) A heavy double ruled line across both pages to clearly set apart the above items from the remaining text.
(2) Upon the lower portion of the left page of the two facing pages shall appear an argument advocating the voters' approval of the measure together with any rebuttal statement of the opposing argument as provided in RCW 29.81.030, 29.81.040, or 29.81.050.
(3) Upon the lower portion of the right hand page of the two facing pages shall appear an argument advocating the voters' rejection of the measure together with any rebuttal statement of the opposing argument as provided in RCW 29.81.030, 29.81.040, or 29.81.050.
(4) Following each argument or rebuttal statement each member of the committee advocating for or against a measure shall be listed by name and address to the end that the public shall be fully apprised of the advocate's identity. The names of the persons preparing the statement shall be printed in bold face capital letters. Also, following each argument or rebuttal statement, the secretary of state shall list, at the option of the committee that submitted the argument or statement, a telephone number that citizens may call in order to obtain information on the ballot measure.
(5) At the conclusion of the pamphlet the full text of each of the measures shall appear. The text of the proposed constitutional amendments shall be set forth in the form provided for in RCW 29.81.080.
Sec. 49. RCW 29.80.040 and 1984 c 54 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
PRINTING. The nominees' statements, photographs, and the addresses and telephone numbers submitted by them as set forth in RCW 29.80.010 and 29.80.020 shall be published by the secretary of state as a candidates' pamphlet, the printing of which shall be completed as soon as possible before the state primary or general election concerned. The overall dimensions of the pamphlet shall be determined by the secretary of state as those which in the secretary's judgment best serve the voters, and whenever possible the candidates' pamphlet shall be combined with the voters' pamphlet as a single publication.
Sec. 50. RCW 29.80.090 and 1984 c 54 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
PUBLIC DISCLOSURE COMMISSION SERVICES. In addition to other contents included in the candidates' pamphlet, the secretary of state shall prepare and include a section containing (1) a brief explanation of how voters may participate in the election campaign process; (2) the name, address, and telephone number of each political party that has one or more nominees listed in the candidates' pamphlet, but this information shall be included in the candidates' pamphlet only if and as filed with the secretary of state by the state committee of a major political party or the presiding officer of the convention of a minor political party; (3) the address and telephone number of the public disclosure commission established under RCW 42.17.350 and a description of the services available through the public disclosure commission; (4) a summary of the disclosure requirements that apply when contributions are made to candidates and political committees; and (5) an explanation of the federal income tax credits and deductions that are available to persons who make such contributions. Whenever the candidates' pamphlet is combined with the voters' pamphlet, the section shall be placed at or near the beginning of the combined publication.
MISCELLANEOUS
NEW SECTION. Sec. 51. REPEALER. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:
(1) RCW 42.17.021 and 1993 c 2 s 30;
(2) RCW 42.17.2415 and 1991 sp.s. c 18 s 3; and
(3) RCW 42.17.630 and 1993 c 2 s 3.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 52. CAPTIONS AND HEADINGS. Captions and headings as used in this act constitute no part of the law.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 53. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
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