SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1510

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

           Government Operations, February 20, 1998

Title:  An act relating to filing statements of financial matters.

Brief Description:  Regulating statements of financial matters.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Government Administration (originally sponsored by Representatives Wensman, D. Schmidt, Scott, Doumit and Cooper).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  3/21/97; 2/19/98, 2/20/98 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Hale, Vice Chair; Haugen, Horn, Patterson and T. Sheldon.

Staff:  Genevieve Pisarski (786-7488)

Background:  The public disclosure law requires elected officials, executive state officers, and certain legislative employees to file statements of financial affairs for the preceding calendar year.

A financial disclosure statement discloses information on a number of subjects for the person who files the statement and his or her immediate family.  Expenses associated with an official appearing in an official capacity, including expenses related to attending seminars and educational programs, must be reported.

In certain instances, such matters must be reported only if the value exceeds a specified amount.  The reporting of a value for these items is done using ranges of dollar values, rather than specific dollar amounts.

Summary of Amended Bill:  Beginning with calendar year 1998, the public employer of any person required to file a statement of financial affairs with the Public Disclosure Commission must file disclosures of reasonable expenses it authorized an official or officer to accept for appearing in an official capacity, including attendance at seminars and educational programs.

The official or officer does not have to report these items.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The year for which reporting by the authorizing public employer begins is corrected to 1998.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The only change is to who does the reporting; the employers keep the records and can report them easily.  This requirement should apply only to legislative and gubernatorial staff.  Parties other than the employer also pay these expenses.  The date needs to be corrected to 1998. 

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Representative Wensman, prime sponsor; Melissa Warheit, PDC.