Brief Description: Eliminating drop-in inspections of campaign accounts.

Sponsors: By Representatives Nixon, Haigh, Kenney and Shabro.

House Committee on State Government Operations & Accountability
Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections

Background:

The Public Disclosure Act requires political committees to maintain books that accurately reflect all contributions and expenditures. The committees must keep the books current within five business days of a receipt or an expenditure until the last eight days of the campaign, during which time the books must be kept current within one business day of a receipt or an expenditure.

Political committees must keep the books open for public inspection on the eighth day before the election for at least two consecutive hours between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the principal headquarters of the campaign, at the address of the treasurer, or at another location authorized by the Public Disclosure Commission. For the week prior to the election, the committee must keep the books open for public inspection by appointment between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. at a location designated by the campaign. Neither the candidate nor the campaign may refuse a request for an appointment, which must be allowed within 24 hours of the date and time requested.

Summary:

The requirement that a political committee's books be open for inspection for two consecutive hours on the eighth day prior to an election is removed. Instead, for the eight days prior to the election, the committee must make the books available for inspection by appointment.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   98   0
Senate   47   0

Effective: July 24, 2005