HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                      Olympia, Washington

Bill Analysis      Bill No. SB 5272

                                           (See HB 1241)

Political activities/citizen member/legislative ethics brd    Public Hrg: 3/28/97

Brief Title       

Senators Long/Spanel/Horn                            Staff Contact: Bill Lynch

Sponsor   (Leg. Ethics Brd Req.)                Comm. on Govt. Admin.

                                           Phone: 786-7092

BACKGROUND:

The Legislative Ethics Board was created in 1994 and consists of five citizen members, two senators, and two representatives.  The board issues advisory opinions and hears complaints with respect to legislators and legislative employees and ethics in public service.

The citizen members of the Legislative Ethics Board are prohibited from holding or campaigning for partisan elective office or full-time nonpartisan office; serving as an officer of a political party or a political committee; allowing his or her name to be used, or making contributions, in support of or in opposition to any state candidate or ballot measure; or lobbying the Legislature except that a member may appear before a legislative committee on matters pertaining to the board.  Citizen members of the board may serve as a precinct committee person.

There is no prohibition against a citizen member of the Legislative Ethics Board from making contributions or allowing his or her name to be used in connection with state legislative races.  There is also no prohibition against a citizen member of the board from campaigning for a seat in the state Legislature, within two years of serving on the board, against an incumbent who was a respondent in a complaint before the board.

                                                     Continued

SB 5272 - Page 2

SUMMARY:

Citizen members of the Legislative Ethics Board are prohibited from:  holding or campaigning for partisan elective office or any full-time nonpartisan office; serving as an officer of a political party or political committee; allowing his or her name to be used or making contributions in support of or opposition to any legislative candidate, any legislative caucus campaign committee that supports or opposes legislative candidates, or any political action committee that supports or opposes legislative candidates; or lobbying the Legislature under circumstances that are not exempt from lobbyist registration and reporting.  Citizen members of the Legislative Ethics Board may serve as a precinct committee person.

In addition, citizen members of the Legislative Ethics Board may not hold or campaign for a seat in the state Legislature within two years of serving on the board if a citizen member opposes an incumbent who has been the respondent of a complaint before the board.

The prohibition against a citizen member of the Legislative Ethics Board from allowing his or her name to be used, or make contributions, in support of or in opposition to any state candidate or state ballot measure is removed.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested.

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