BILL REQ. #:  H-3406.1 

Read first time 01/19/2004.   Referred to Committee on State Government.

     AN ACT Relating to electronic filing for lobbyists; amending RCW 42.17.369 and 42.17.3691; and creating a new section.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 42.17.369 and 2000 c 237 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) ((By July 1, 1999,)) The commission shall make available to candidates, public officials, ((and)) political committees, lobbyists, and lobbyists' employers that are required to file reports under this chapter an electronic filing alternative for submitting financial affairs reports, contribution reports, and expenditure reports, including but not limited to filing by diskette, modem, satellite, or the internet.
     (2) ((By January 1, 2002, the commission shall make available to lobbyists and lobbyists' employers required to file reports under RCW 42.17.150, 42.17.170, 42.17.175, or 42.17.180 an electronic filing alternative for submitting these reports including but not limited to filing by diskette, modem, satellite, or the Internet.
     (3))) The commission shall make available to candidates, public officials, political committees, lobbyists, and lobbyists' employers an electronic copy of the appropriate reporting forms at no charge.

Sec. 2   RCW 42.17.3691 and 2000 c 237 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) ((Beginning January 1, 2002, each candidate or political committee that expended twenty-five thousand dollars or more in the preceding year or expects to expend twenty-five thousand dollars or more in the current year shall file all contribution reports and expenditure reports required by this chapter by the electronic alternative provided by the commission under RCW 42.17.369. The commission may make exceptions on a case-by-case basis for candidates whose authorized committees lack the technological ability to file reports using the electronic alternative provided by the commission.
     (2) Beginning January 1, 2004,)) Each candidate or political committee that expended ten thousand dollars or more in the preceding year or expects to expend ten thousand dollars or more in the current year shall file all contribution reports and expenditure reports required by this chapter by the electronic alternative provided by the commission under RCW 42.17.369. ((The commission may make exceptions on a case-by-case basis for candidates whose authorized committees lack the technological ability to file reports using the electronic alternative provided by the commission.
     (3))) (2)(a)(i) Beginning January 1, 2007, lobbyists required to register under RCW 42.17.150, or report under RCW 42.17.170, whose total reportable accrued compensation and expenses for lobbying, whether from or on behalf of one or more lobbyist employers, was twenty-five thousand dollars or more for the previous calendar year, or is expected to be twenty-five thousand dollars or more for the current calendar year, must file all reports required by this chapter by the electronic alternative provided by the commission under RCW 42.17.369.
     (ii) Beginning January 1, 2009, lobbyists required to register under RCW 42.17.150, or report under RCW 42.17.170, whose total reportable accrued compensation and expenses for lobbying, whether from or on behalf of one or more lobbyist employers, was ten thousand dollars or more for the previous calendar year, or is expected to be ten thousand dollars or more for the current calendar year, must file all reports required by this chapter by the electronic alternative provided by the commission under RCW 42.17.369.
     (b)(i) Beginning January 1, 2008, lobbyist employers required to report under RCW 42.17.180 whose total reportable accrued expenses and payments for lobbying, including those through or on behalf of one or more lobbyists, was twenty-five thousand dollars or more for the previous calendar year, or is expected to be twenty-five thousand dollars or more for the current calendar year, must file all reports required by this chapter by the electronic alternative provided by the commission under RCW 42.17.369.
     (ii) Beginning January 1, 2010, lobbyist employers required to report under RCW 42.17.180 whose total reportable accrued expenses and payments for lobbying, including those through or on behalf of one or more lobbyists, was ten thousand dollars or more for the previous calendar year, or is expected to be ten thousand dollars or more for the current calendar year, must file all reports required by this chapter by the electronic alternative provided by the commission under RCW 42.17.369.
     (3) The commission may make exceptions on a case-by-case basis for candidates, lobbyists, or lobbyist employers who lack the technological ability to file reports using the electronic alternative provided by the commission.
     (4) Failure by a candidate ((or)), political committee, lobbyist, or lobbyist employer to comply with this section is a violation of this chapter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2004, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.