BILL REQ. #:  H-4121.1 

Read first time 01/12/10.   Referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs.

     AN ACT Relating to disclosure of political contributions by persons awarded sole source state contracts; and adding a new section to chapter 42.17 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 42.17 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Any person or business entity that is awarded a sole source contract from a state agency of twenty-five thousand dollars or more, or two or more contracts totaling twenty-five thousand dollars in the aggregate in a twelve-month period, must file a report with the commission detailing contributions made in the twelve months before the contract award. The report must:
     (a) Include an itemized list of the contributions made to a candidate or holder of a state office, a caucus political committee, or a bona fide political party by the contract recipient, a principal associated with the contract recipient, including a subcontractor or consultant, a spouse or registered domestic partner of a principal, or a political committee sponsored by the recipient or a principal of the contract recipient; and
     (b) Be filed no later than fifteen days after the signing of the contract.
     (2) The commission shall post on its web site information regarding political contributions made by persons awarded sole source contracts of twenty-five thousand dollars or more.
     (3) A state agency that awards a sole source contract of twenty-five thousand dollars or more, or two or more contracts to the same contractor that totals twenty-five thousand dollars or more in the aggregate, shall, no later than five days after the date of the contract award, notify the commission of the name and street address, city, state, and zip code of the recipient, the amount of the award, and a description of the contract.
     (4) For purposes of this section, sole source contracts include contracts for goods and services awarded under chapter 43.19 RCW, personal service contracts under chapter 39.29 RCW, or public works contracts under chapter 39.04 RCW. Contracts awarded under exemptions due to declared emergencies as provided by law are exempt from this section.
     (5) For purposes of this section, "sponsored by" means any person who alone or in conjunction with other persons makes, directs, or authorizes contributions, expenditures, or strategic or policy decisions on behalf of the committee.