H-2078.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2157
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 55th Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By Representatives Murray, Dunshee, Dickerson, Kessler, Blalock, O'Brien, Conway, Costa, Gombosky, Cody, Cooper, Gardner, Linville, Ogden and Lantz
Read first time 02/24/97. Referred to Committee on Government Administration.
AN ACT Relating to the citizens' commission on campaign finance and practices; creating new sections; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The citizens' commission on campaign finance and practices is created to consist of seventeen members appointed as provided in this section: One person from each congressional district, appointed by the governor; one person each from a list of three submitted by the chair of each of the major political parties of the state, selected by the secretary of state; one nonelected election administrator selected by the secretary of state; and one person appointed by the leader of each major political caucus organization in the state legislature. No person appointed may be a registered lobbyist, an elected state or local official, a candidate for elected office, or a family member of an official or candidate.
The governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and chair of the public disclosure commission shall serve as ex officio members of the commission, without voting authority.
Vacancies must be filled by the original appointing authority and under the same qualifications.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The citizens' commission on campaign finance and practices shall study campaign finance and practices, including existing laws on campaign finance and practices, their effects, and the mission and operation of the public disclosure commission, and propose legislation on campaign finance and practices to the legislature and make other recommendations as it deems appropriate. "Campaign" as used in this section includes campaigns for partisan elective offices, nonpartisan elective offices, and for or against ballot propositions.
(2) Except as provided otherwise in RCW 43.03.305 and this section, the citizens' commission is solely responsible for its own organization, operation, and action and shall enjoy the fullest cooperation of all state officials, departments, and agencies. The public disclosure commission shall provide the necessary support to the citizens' commission to carry out the purposes of this section.
(3) Members of the citizens' commission receive no compensation for their services, but are eligible to receive a subsistence allowance and travel expenses under RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
(4) The members of the citizens' commission shall elect a chair from among their number.
(5) Before submitting reports or recommendations to the legislature, the citizens' commission shall hold no fewer than two public hearings on campaign finance and practices within the four months immediately before the submission.
(6) All meetings, actions, hearings, and business of the citizens' commission are subject in full to the Open Public Meetings Act, chapter 42.30 RCW.
(7) The citizens' commission shall make its report by December 31, 1997.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Sections 1 and 2 of this act expire December 31, 1997.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.
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