BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to limitations on contributions associated with local government elective offices; adding new sections to chapter 42.17 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND MEMBERS OF A COUNTY LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY IN A COUNTY WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE. A new section is added to chapter 42.17 RCW to read as follows:

(1) A person other than a bona fide political party may not make contributions to a candidate for a county elected position that in the aggregate exceed one thousand dollars for each primary or general election in which the candidate is on the ballot or appears as a write‑in candidate. Contributions made with respect to a primary may not be made after the date of the primary. Contributions made with respect to a general election may not be made after the final day of the applicable election cycle.

(2) A person other than a bona fide political party may not make contributions to a person serving in a county elected position against whom recall charges have been filed, or to a political committee having the expectation of making expenditures in support of the recall of the official, during a recall campaign and for a period of up to thirty days after the recall election that in the aggregate exceed one thousand dollars.

(3) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the combined contributions from a bona fide political party or county central committee to a candidate for such a county elected position, person serving in such a county elected position against whom recall charges have been filed, or political committee having the expectation of making expenditures in support of the recall of the official, during an election cycle or during a recall campaign and for a period of up to thirty days after the recall election, may not in the aggregate exceed fifty cents multiplied by the number of eligible registered voters at the last state general election in the jurisdiction from which the candidate or official is elected.

(4) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, a corporation or business entity not doing business in Washington state, a labor union with fewer than ten members who reside in Washington state, or a political committee that has not received contributions of ten dollars or more from at least ten persons registered to vote in Washington state during the preceding one hundred eighty days, may not make contributions to a candidate for such a county elected position, person serving in such a county elected position against whom recall charges have been filed, or political committee having the expectation of making expenditures in support of the recall of the official. This subsection does not apply to loans made in the ordinary course of business.

(5) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, a county central committee may not make contributions to a candidate for such a county elected position, person serving in such a county elected position against whom recall charges have been filed, or political committee having the expectation of making expenditures in support of the recall of the official, if the county central committee is outside the jurisdiction entitled to elect the candidate or official.

(6) For the purposes of the limitations in this section, a contribution to the authorized committee of a candidate for such a county elected position, or person serving in such a county elected position against whom recall charges have been filed, is a contribution to the candidate or official.

(7) A person may not accept contributions that exceed the contribution limitations of this section.

(8) As used in this section, "county elected position" means a county executive or member of a county legislative authority in a county with a population of one million or more.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND MEMBERS OF A COUNTY LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY IN A COUNTY WITH A POPULATION FROM FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND TO LESS THAN ONE MILLION. A new section is added to chapter 42.17 RCW to read as follows:

(1) A person other than a bona fide political party may not make contributions to a candidate for a county elected position that in the aggregate exceed seven hundred fifty dollars for each primary or general election in which the candidate is on the ballot or appears as a write‑in candidate. Contributions made with respect to a primary may not be made after the date of the primary. Contributions made with respect to a general election may not be made after the final day of the applicable election cycle.

(3) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the combined contributions from a bona fide political party or county central committee to a candidate for such a county elected position, person serving in such a county elected position against whom recall charges have been filed, or political committee having the expectation of making expenditures in support of the recall of the official, during an election cycle or during a recall campaign and for a period of up to thirty days after the recall election, may not in the aggregate exceed forty cents multiplied by the number of eligible registered voters at the last state general election in the jurisdiction from which the candidate or official is elected.

(7) A person may not accept contributions that exceed the contribution limitations of this section.

(8) As used in this section, "county elected position" means a county executive or member of a county legislative authority in a county with a population from five hundred thousand to less than one million.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND MEMBER OF A COUNTY LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY IN A COUNTY WITH A POPULATION LESS THAN FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND. A new section is added to chapter 42.17 RCW to read as follows:

(1) A person other than a bona fide political party may not make contributions to a candidate for a county elected position that in the aggregate exceed five hundred dollars for each primary or general election in which the candidate is on the ballot or appears as a write‑in candidate. Contributions made with respect to a primary may not be made after the date of the primary. Contributions made with respect to a general election may not be made after the final day of the applicable election cycle.

(3) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the combined contributions from a bona fide political party or county central committee to a candidate for such a county elected position, person serving in such a county elected position against whom recall charges have been filed, or political committee having the expectation of making expenditures in support of the recall of the official, during an election cycle or during a recall campaign and for a period of up to thirty days after the recall election, may not in the aggregate exceed thirty cents multiplied by the number of eligible registered voters at the last state general election in the jurisdiction from which the candidate or official is elected.

(7) A person may not accept contributions that exceed the contribution limitations of this section.

(8) As used in this section, "county elected position" means a county executive or member of a county legislative authority in a county with a population less than five hundred thousand.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS OF A CITY WITH A POPULATION OF FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND OR MORE. A new section is added to chapter 42.17 RCW to read as follows:

(1) A person may not make contributions to a candidate for a city elected position that in the aggregate exceed seven hundred fifty dollars for each primary or general election in which the candidate is on the ballot or appears as a write‑in candidate. Contributions made with respect to a primary may not be made after the date of the primary. Contributions made with respect to a general election may not be made after the final day of the applicable election cycle.

(2) A person may not make contributions to a person serving in a city elected position against whom recall charges have been filed, or to a political committee having the expectation of making expenditures in support of the recall of the official, during a recall campaign and for a period of up to thirty days after the recall election that in the aggregate exceed seven hundred fifty dollars.

(3) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, a corporation or business entity not doing business in Washington state, a labor union with fewer than ten members who reside in Washington state, or a political committee that has not received contributions of ten dollars or more from at least ten persons registered to vote in Washington state during the preceding one hundred eighty days, may not make contributions to a candidate for such a city elected position, person serving in such a city elected position against whom recall charges have been filed, or political committee having the expectation of making expenditures in support of the recall of the official. This subsection does not apply to loans made in the ordinary course of business.

(4) For the purposes of the limitations in this section, a contribution to the authorized committee of a candidate for such a city elected position, or person serving in such a city elected position against whom recall charges have been filed, is a contribution to the candidate or official.

(5) A person may not accept contributions that exceed the contribution limitations of this section.

(6) As used in this section, "city elected position" means a mayor or member of a city council in a city with a population of five hundred thousand or more.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS OF A CITY WITH A POPULATION LESS THAN FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND. A new section is added to chapter 42.17 RCW to read as follows:

(1) A person may not make contributions to a candidate for a city elected position that in the aggregate exceed five hundred dollars for each primary or general election in which the candidate is on the ballot or appears as a write‑in candidate. Contributions made with respect to a primary may not be made after the date of the primary. Contributions made with respect to a general election may not be made after the final day of the applicable election cycle.

(5) A person may not accept contributions that exceed the contribution limitations of this section.

(6) As used in this section, "city elected position" means a mayor or member of a city council in a city with a population less than five hundred thousand.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. PUBLIC UTILITY AND PORT DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS. A new section is added to chapter 42.17 RCW to read as follows:

(1) A person may not make contributions to a candidate for a public utility or port district commissioner that in the aggregate exceed two hundred fifty dollars for each primary or general election in which the candidate is on the ballot or appears as a write‑in candidate. Contributions made with respect to a primary may not be made after the date of the primary. Contributions made with respect to a general election may not be made after the final day of the applicable election cycle.

(2) A person may not make contributions to a person serving as a public utility or port district commissioner against whom recall charges have been filed, or to a political committee having the expectation of making expenditures in support of the recall of the commissioner, during a recall campaign and for a period of up to thirty days after the recall election that in the aggregate exceed two hundred fifty dollars.

(3) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, a corporation or business entity not doing business in Washington state, a labor union with fewer than ten members who reside in Washington state, or a political committee that has not received contributions of ten dollars or more from at least ten persons registered to vote in Washington state during the preceding one hundred eighty days, may not make contributions to a candidate for a public utility or port district commissioner, person serving as a public utility or port district commissioner against whom recall charges have been filed, or political committee having the expectation of making expenditures in support of the recall of the commissioner. This subsection does not apply to loans made in the ordinary course of business.

(4) For the purposes of the limitations in this section, a contribution to the authorized committee of a candidate for public utility or port district commissioner, or person serving as a public utility or port district commissioner against whom recall charges have been filed, is a contribution to the candidate or commissioner.

(5) A person may not accept contributions that exceed the contribution limitations of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Section captions used in this act are not part of the law, and may be revised in codification.