6342.E AMH HUNT ADAM 087

ESB 6342 - H AMD TO H AMD (6342.E AMH LANT ADAM 084) 1114

By Representative Hunter

   On page 1, after line 18 of the amendment, insert the following:

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 42.17 RCW to read as follows:

   It is the intent of the legislature to ensure that elections for municipal court judges do not compromise the integrity of and public confidence in the court system. The establishment of contribution limits for these races will eliminate the potential for influence by large contributors and the appearance of impropriety by municipal judges.

   (1) No person may make contributions to a candidate for municipal court judge that in the aggregate exceed seven hundred dollars for each election in which the candidate is on the ballot or appears as a write-in candidate. Contributions made with respect to a primary may not be made after the date of the primary. However, contributions to a candidate or a candidate's authorized committee may be made with respect to a primary until thirty days after the primary, subject to the following limitations: (a) The candidate lost the primary; (b) the candidate's authorized committee has insufficient funds to pay debts outstanding as of the date of the primary; and (c) the contributions may only be raised and spent to satisfy the outstanding debt. Contributions made with respect to a general election may not be made after the final day of the applicable election cycle.
   (2) This section and RCW 42.17.640 through RCW 42.17.790 apply to a special election conducted to fill a vacancy in an office. However, the contributions made to a candidate or received by a candidate for a primary or special election conducted to fill such a vacancy will not be counted toward any of the limitations that apply to the candidate or to contributions made to the candidate for any other primary or election.
   (3) No person may accept contributions that exceed the contribution limitations provided in this section.
   (4) The dollar limits in this section must be adjusted according to RCW 42.17.690."

EFFECT: Establishes contribution limits for candidates for municipal court judge not to exceed $700 in the aggregate per person for each election in which the candidate is on the ballot.