H-4205.1          _______________________________________________

                                  HOUSE BILL 2599

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              54th Legislature             1996 Regular Session

By Representative Stevens

Read first time 01/15/96.  Referred to Committee on Government Operations.

Extending mailing restrictions on incumbent mailings.

     AN ACT Relating to restrictions on mailings by incumbents; and amending RCW 42.17.132.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

     Sec. 1.  RCW 42.17.132 and 1995 c 397 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

     During the twelve-month period preceding the last day for certification of the election results for ((a state legislator's)) an elected official's election to office, the ((legislator)) elected official may not mail to a constituent at public expense a letter, newsletter, brochure, or other piece of literature except as provided in this section.  During this period the elected official may not present a public service announcement by print or broadcast media or other electronic media.

     ((The)) During the twelve-month period before an election in which a state or local agency director is a candidate, the director may not mail to a constituent at public expense a letter, newsletter, brochure, or other piece of literature except as provided in this section.  During this period the director may not present a public service announcement by print or broadcast media or other electronic media.

A state legislator may mail one mailing no later than thirty days after the start of a regular legislative session and one mailing no later than sixty days after the end of a regular legislative session of identical newsletters to constituents.

     ((The legislator)) An elected official or state or local agency director may mail an individual letter to an individual constituent who (1) has contacted the ((legislator)) elected official or director regarding the subject matter of the letter during the legislator's current term of office; or (2) holds a governmental office with jurisdiction over the subject matter of the letter.

     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 and 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.

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