Brief Description: Concerning campaign finance disclosure.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections (originally sponsored by Senators Regala, Swecker, Kastama and Rasmussen).

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

Background: The campaign finance disclosure laws apply to all election campaigns except those for precinct committee officer, for federal elective office and for an office of a political subdivision that does not encompass a whole county and that contains fewer than 5,000 registered voters.

Another exemption to the reporting provisions applies to candidates, elected officials and agencies in political subdivisions with less than 1,000 registered voters. This exemption also includes the political committees formed to support or oppose candidates or ballot propositions and persons making independent expenditures concerning those ballot propositions in political subdivisions with less than 1000 registered voters.

These exemptions must be reversed by order of the PDC upon its receipt of a valid petition of 15 percent of the registered voters or upon the commission's finding that the governing body of the political subdivision submitted a valid petition to the commission.

Summary: Campaign finance reporting is required of candidates for any political subdivision if the candidate receives $5,000 or more in contributions.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      39   3
House      97   1   (House amended)
Senate      44   2   (Senate concurred)

Effective: June 7, 2006