HB 2945 - DIGEST

Declares that the purpose of this act is to create a system of clean elections for state office campaigns through public financing, thereby focusing campaigns on issues and away from the sources of campaign contributions, limit the influence of large contributors and special interests, and require contribution limits for all elective office campaigns.

Provides that the civil penalty for a violation of a contribution or expenditure limit established under this act by or on behalf of a participating candidate is ten times the amount by which the expenditures or contributions exceed the applicable limit.

Provides that, in addition to any other penalties imposed by law, the civil penalty for a violation by or on behalf of a participating candidate of a reporting requirement imposed by this act is one hundred dollars per day.

Requires that a participating candidate adjudged to have knowingly committed a violation of this act shall repay the amount from his or her personal funds to the citizens' clean elections fund and shall turn over all money in the candidate's authorized committee account to the citizens' clean elections fund.

Provides that all civil penalties collected under this act will be deposited into the citizens' clean elections fund.

Provides that, in addition to the tax imposed upon the sale, use, consumption, handling, possession, or distribution of cigarettes set forth in RCW 82.24.020, there is imposed a tax in an amount equal to the rate of five mills per cigarette effective January 1, 2005. All revenues collected during any month from this additional tax must be deposited in the citizens' clean elections fund created under this act by the twenty-fifth day of the following month.

Repeals RCW 42.17.128.