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

SB 6236

Brief Description:  Revising restrictions on mailings by legislators.

Sponsors:  Senators West, Snyder and Gardner.

Brief Summary of Bill

$The time period restricting mailings to constituents at public expense by a legislator who is a candidate for office is changed from December 1 through November 30 to December 1 through the day after the general election.

Hearing Date:  2/22/02

Staff:  Marsha Reilly (786‑7135).

Background:

Originally passed as part of Initiative Measure 134, this state ethics statute restricts public funded mailings by legislators who are candidates for office.  Currently, mailings through regular mail or through electronic mail are limited during the period of December 1 of the year before a general election in which the legislator is a candidate for office through November 30 immediately following the general election.  There are some exceptions:

$Two mailings of newsletters to constituents are allowed, so long as the newsletters are identical in content.  One mailing may be made within thirty days after the start of a regular legislative session, and the other mailing must be within sixty days after the end of a regular legislative session; and

$Individual letters may be sent in specific response to constituents' requests for information, or to individual constituents who have received an award or honor of extraordinary distinction.

A violation of this statute constitutes use of the facilities of a public office for the purpose of assisting a campaign.

Summary of Bill:

The time period restricting mailings to constituents at public expense by a legislator who is a candidate for office is changed from December 1 through November 30 to December 1 through the day after the general election.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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