H-3256.3  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2585

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2002 Regular Session

By Representatives McDermott, Romero, Miloscia, Upthegrove, Schindler and Lysen

Read first time 01/22/2002.  Referred to Committee on State Government.

Restricting political activity by public disclosure commissioners.

    AN ACT Relating to members of the public disclosure commission; and amending RCW 42.17.350.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 42.17.350 and 1998 c 30 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) There is hereby established a "public disclosure commission" which shall be composed of five members who shall be appointed by the governor, with the consent of the senate.  All appointees shall be persons of the highest integrity and qualifications.  No more than three members shall have an identification with the same political party.

    (2) The term of each member shall be five years.  No member is eligible for appointment to more than one full term.  Any member may be removed by the governor, but only upon grounds of neglect of duty or misconduct in office.

    (3) No person may serve on the commission who is not a registered voter of the state at the time of selection.

(4) During his or her tenure, a member of the commission is prohibited from engaging in any of the following activities, either within or outside the state of Washington:

    (a) ((Holding or campaigning for elective office;

    (b))) Serving as an officer of any political party or political committee;

    (((c))) (b) Permitting his or her name to be used in support of or in opposition to a candidate or proposition;

    (((d))) (c) Soliciting or making contributions to a candidate or in support of or in opposition to any candidate or proposition;

    (((e))) (d) Participating in any way in any election campaign; or

    (((f))) (e) Lobbying, employing, or assisting a lobbyist, except that a member or the staff of the commission may lobby to the limited extent permitted by RCW 42.17.190 on matters directly affecting this chapter.

    (((4))) (5) No member of the commission may hold, seek, or campaign for elective or appointive office while a member of the commission.

(6) A vacancy on the commission shall be filled within thirty days of the vacancy by the governor, with the consent of the senate, and the appointee shall serve for the remaining term of his or her predecessor.  A vacancy shall not impair the powers of the remaining members to exercise all of the powers of the commission.

    (((5))) (7) Three members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.  The commission shall elect its own chair and adopt its own rules of procedure in the manner provided in chapter 34.05 RCW.

    (((6))) (8) Members shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.250 and in addition shall be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred while engaged in the business of the commission as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.  The compensation provided pursuant to this section shall not be considered salary for purposes of the provisions of any retirement system created pursuant to the general laws of this state.

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