H-4507.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2916

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1996 Regular Session

By Representative Quall

Read first time 01/25/96.  Referred to Committee on Government Operations.

Expanding restrictions on mailings by legislators.

    AN ACT Relating to restrictions on mailings by legislators; 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 election to office, the legislator may not mail to a constituent at public expense a letter, newsletter, brochure, or other piece of literature except as provided in this section.

    The 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)) A legislator may not, at public expense, mail any material to his or her constituent or constituents except as follows:

A legislator may mail an individual letter to an individual constituent who (1) has contacted the legislator 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 42.52.180.

    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.

                            --- END ---