Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
State Government Committee

HB 2320

Brief Description:  Regarding campaign contributions.

Sponsors:  Representatives McDermott, Schmidt, Romero, McMorris, Santos, Miloscia, Kessler, Haigh and Edwards; by request of Public Disclosure Commission.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Changes the filing day for weekly contribution reports from Friday to Monday, and amends the definitions of "general election" and "primary" to restrict their application to the contribution limits section of statute.

Hearing Date:  1/24/02

Staff:  Marsha Reilly (786‑7135).

Background:

Current statute requires the treasurer of a political campaign or committee to file a report with the PDC (Public Disclosure Commission) and the appropriate county elections officer a report of each bank deposit made during the previous seven calendar days.  Included in the report are the names of contributors and amounts they contributed.  Those who contribute twenty‑five dollars or less do not need to be named.

These reports are filed every Friday beginning on the first day of the fourth month preceding the date on which the special or general election is held (July 1) and ending on the date of that election.

"General election" is defined in the PDA as "the election that results in the election of a person to state office.  It does not include a primary."  "Primary" is defined in the PDA as the procedure for nominating a candidate to state office pursuant to the procedures for partisan and nonpartisan primaries, or any other primary for an election that uses established procedures for partisan and nonpartisan primaries.

Summary of Bill:

The due date for weekly reports of contributions is moved from Fridays to Mondays.

The definitions of "general election" and "primary" are restricted to refer to the contributions limits section of the statute.

Rulemaking Authority:  No express authority.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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