HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                      Olympia, Washington

Bill Analysis      Bill No. HB 2575

Restrictions on PDC members= activities              Hrg Date:  1/28/98

Brief Title

Reps. Pennington/D. Schmidt                               Staff: Caroleen Dineen

Sponsor                                    Comm. on Govt. Admin.

                                           Phone: 786-7156

BACKGROUND:

Chapter 42.17 RCW, Washington=s public disclosure statute, includes a policy of promoting full disclosure of information relating to political campaigns and lobbying contributions, as well as the financial affairs of elected officials and candidates. This chapter also assures public access to state and local agency records with certain exceptions.

The Public Disclosure Commission (the APDC@) is a five-member board appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate.   PDC members are appointed for five-year terms.

PDC members are prohibited by RCW 42.17.350 from engaging in any of the following activities:

CHolding or campaigning for public office;

CServing as an officer of any political party or political committee;

CPermitting his or her name to be used in any election campaign;

CParticipating in any way in any election campaign; and

CLobbying or employing or assisting a lobbyist with limited exceptions.

APublic office@ is defined by statute to include any federal, state or local elective office.  An Aelection campaign@ is defined generally as any campaign supporting or opposing a candidate or ballot proposition.

SUMMARY:

The section establishing the Public Disclosure Commission is amended to clarify that the statutory prohibitions apply both within and outside the state of Washington.

PDC members are expressly prohibited from engaging in any of the activities enumerated in RCW 42.17.350, regardless of whether the activity occurs within or outside Washington.

HB 2575 - Page 2

Organizational changes are made to the section.  References to appointment and initial terms of Public Disclosure Commission members are deleted.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.