Title: An act relating to campaign finance disclosure.

Brief Description: Expanding campaign finance disclosure in small political subdivisions.

Sponsors: Representatives Miloscia, Hunt, Campbell and Dunshee.

Brief History:

State Government Operations & Accountability: 1/24/06, 1/30/06 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ACCOUNTABILITY

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Haigh, Chair; Green, Vice Chair; Nixon, Ranking Minority Member; Clements, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Hunt, McDermott, Miloscia, Schindler and Sump.

Staff: Marsha Reilly (786-7135).

Background:

The Public Disclosure Act, adopted in 1972, requires that political campaign and lobbying contributions and expenditures be fully disclosed. The law applies to all election campaigns with the following exceptions:

• for precinct committee officer;
• for federal elective office; and
• for an office of a political subdivision of the state that does not encompass a whole county and that contains fewer than 5,000 registered voters as of the date of the most recent election.

Any exempted political subdivision may petition for disclosure. In order to be validated, the petition must include signatures of at least 15 percent of the registered voters as of the date of the most recent general election in the political subdivision, and be submitted to the Public Disclosure Commission (Commission). Signatures are verified by the County Auditor or elections officer of the county in which the political subdivision is located. Once the correct number of required signatures are verified, the Commission is required to notify every known affected person to file the required statements and reports within 14 days of the date of the order.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

The reporting provisions of the Public Disclosure Act apply to a candidate in any political subdivision if the candidate receives or expects to receive $5,000 or more in contributions.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill added a cross reference in statute relating to financing of election campaigns.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The purpose is to bring a little more scrutiny to candidates in small jurisdictions who spend a significant amount of money.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Miloscia, prime sponsor.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.