BILL REQ. #:  H-1298.2 

     AN ACT Relating to political advertising sponsor identification; amending RCW 42.17.510; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   It is the intent of the legislature to improve disclosure to voters by requiring, as part of the communication, identification of the controlling person and top contributors in instances where an individual or entity establishes one or more political committees as a vehicle to receive and pass through funds.

Sec. 2   RCW 42.17.510 and 2005 c 445 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) All written political advertising, whether relating to candidates or ballot propositions, shall include the sponsor's name and address. All radio and television political advertising, whether relating to candidates or ballot propositions, shall include the sponsor's name. The use of an assumed name for the sponsor of electioneering communications, independent expenditures, or political advertising shall be unlawful. For partisan office, if a candidate has expressed a party or independent preference on the declaration of candidacy, that party or independent designation shall be clearly identified in electioneering communications, independent expenditures, or political advertising.
     (2) In addition to the ((materials)) information required by subsection (1) of this section, except as specifically addressed in subsections (4) and (5) of this section, all political advertising undertaken as an independent expenditure by a person or entity other than a bona fide political party ((organization)), and all electioneering communications, must include as part of the communication:
     (a) The ((following)) statement ((as part of the communication "NOTICE TO VOTERS (Required by law): This advertisement is not authorized or approved by any candidate)): "No candidate authorized this ad. It is paid for by (name, address, city, state)((.));"
     (b) If the ((advertisement undertaken as an independent expenditure or electioneering communication is undertaken by a nonindividual other than a party organization, then the following notation must also be included)) sponsor is a political committee, the statement: "Top Five Contributors," followed by a listing of the names of the five persons or entities making the largest contributions in excess of seven hundred dollars reportable under this chapter during the twelve-month period before the date of the advertisement or communication; and
     (c) If the sponsor is a political committee established, maintained, or controlled directly or indirectly through the formation of one or more political committees by an individual, corporation, union, association, or other entity, the full name of that individual or entity.
     (3) The ((statements and listings of contributors)) information required by subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall:
     (a) Appear on the first page or fold of the written advertisement or communication in at least ten-point type, or in type at least ten percent of the largest size type used in a written advertisement or communication directed at more than one voter, such as a billboard or poster, whichever is larger;
     (b) Not be subject to the half-tone or screening process; and
     (c) Be set apart from any other printed matter.
     (4) In an independent expenditure or electioneering communication transmitted via television or other medium that includes a visual image, the following statement must either be clearly spoken, or appear in print and be visible for at least four seconds, appear in letters greater than four percent of the visual screen height, and have a reasonable color contrast with the background: "No candidate authorized this ad. Paid for by (name, city, state)." If the advertisement or communication is undertaken by a nonindividual other than a party organization, then the following notation must also be included: "Top Five Contributors" followed by a listing of the names of the five persons or entities making the largest contributions in excess of seven hundred dollars reportable under this chapter during the twelve-month period before the date of the advertisement. Abbreviations may be used to describe contributing entities if the full name of the entity has been clearly spoken previously during the broadcast advertisement.
     (5) The following statement shall be clearly spoken in an independent expenditure or electioneering communication transmitted by a method that does not include a visual image: "No candidate authorized this ad. Paid for by (name, city, state)." If the independent expenditure or electioneering communication is undertaken by a nonindividual other than a party organization, then the following statement must also be included: "Top Five Contributors" followed by a listing of the names of the five persons or entities making the largest contributions in excess of seven hundred dollars reportable under this chapter during the twelve-month period before the date of the advertisement. Abbreviations may be used to describe contributing entities if the full name of the entity has been clearly spoken previously during the broadcast advertisement.
     (6) Political yard signs are exempt from the requirement of subsections (1) and (2) of this section that the name and address of the sponsor of political advertising be listed on the advertising. In addition, the public disclosure commission shall, by rule, exempt from the identification requirements of subsections (1) and (2) of this section forms of political advertising such as campaign buttons, balloons, pens, pencils, sky-writing, inscriptions, and other forms of advertising where identification is impractical.
     (7) For the purposes of this section, "yard sign" means any outdoor sign with dimensions no greater than eight feet by four feet.