SB 5931-S2.E - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

     Declares an intent to ensure that the commission provide the general public timely access to all contribution and expenditure reports submitted by candidates, continuing political committees, bona fide political parties, lobbyists, and lobbyists' employers.

     Finds that failure to comply with this chapter's requirements for full and timely disclosure threatens to undermine our electoral process.

     Directs the commission to establish goals that all reports, copies of reports, or copies of the data or information included in reports, filed under RCW 42.17.040, 42.17.065, 42.17.080, 42.17.100, 42.17.105, 42.17.150, 42.17.170, 42.17.175, and 42.17.180, that are:  (1) Submitted using the commission's electronic filing system shall be accessible in the commission's office within two business days of the commission's receipt of the report and shall be accessible on the commission's web site within seven business days of the commission's receipt of the report; and

     (2) submitted in any format or using any method other than as described in (a) of this subsection, shall be accessible in the commission's office within four business days of the actual physical receipt of the report, and not the technical date of filing as provided under RCW 42.17.420, and shall be accessible on the commission's web site within fourteen business days of the actual physical receipt of the report, and not the technical date of filing as provided under RCW 42.17.420, as specified in rule adopted by the commission.

     Provides that, on January 1, 2001, or shortly thereafter, the commission shall revise these goals to reflect that all reports, copies of reports, or copies of the data or information included in reports, filed under RCW 42.17.040, 42.17.065, 42.17.080, 42.17.100, 42.17.105, 42.17.150, 42.17.170, 42.17.175, and 42.17.180, that are:  (1) Submitted using the commission's electronic filing system shall be accessible in the commission's office and on the commission's web site within two business days of the commission's receipt of the report; and

     (2) submitted in any format or using any method other than as described in (a) of this subsection, shall be accessible in the commission's office and on the commission's web site within four business days of the actual physical receipt of the report, and not the technical date of filing as provided under RCW 42.17.420, as specified in rule adopted by the commission.

     Requires the commission to submit the information technology plan to the senate and house of representatives fiscal committees, the governor, the senate state and local government committee, the house of representatives state government committee, and the department of information services by February 1, 2000.  It is the intent of the legislature that the commission thereafter comply with the requirements of chapter 43.105 RCW with respect to preparation and submission of biennial performance reports on the commission's information technology.

     Provides that by July 1, 1999, the commission shall offer every candidate, public official, political committee, and party organization that is required to file reports under this chapter the option of filing financial affairs reports, contribution reports, and expenditure reports electronically by diskette or via modem, satellite, or the Internet.

     Provides that, by January 1, 2001, the commission shall offer all lobbyists and lobbyists' employers required to file reports under RCW 42.17.150, 42.17.170, 42.17.175, or 42.17.180 the option of filing these reports electronically by diskette or via modem, satellite, or the Internet.

     Requires the commission to make available to each candidate, public official, political committee, lobbyist, lobbyist employer, and party organization an electronic copy of the appropriate reporting forms at no charge.

     Provides that, beginning January 1, 2001, each continuing political committee, that expended ten thousand dollars or more in the preceding year or expects to expend ten thousand dollars or more in expenditures in the current year, shall file all contribution reports and expenditure reports required by this chapter electronically by diskette or via modem, satellite, or the Internet.  Failure by a continuing political committee to comply with this section is a violation of chapter 42.l7 RCW.

     Requires that by December 1, 2000, the joint legislative audit and review committee shall have completed a performance audit of the duties and staffing of the public disclosure commission.