BILL REQ. #:  H-4420.1 

Read first time 01/20/10.   Referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs.

     AN ACT Relating to prohibiting public service announcements by elected officials during reelection campaigns; adding a new section to chapter 42.52 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 42.23 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that the ethics in public service act was enacted in order to make a distinction between public duties and private affairs, and that the use of one's public office should not be used for personal gain or private advantage. The legislature further finds that public service announcements made by elected officials during their reelection campaigns are the equivalent of campaign advertisements and result in personal gain and private advantage for incumbents at taxpayer expense. Therefore, the legislature intends that public service announcements made by elected officials be restricted during reelection campaigns.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 42.52 RCW to read as follows:
     Except as provided in this section, during the period beginning January 1st of a reelection year and continuing through the general election, or until the official is no longer a candidate, a state elected official may not make public service announcements. This section does not apply to public service announcements that are part of the regular duties of the state office that only mention or visually display the state office or state office seal or logo and do not mention or visually display the name of the state official in the announcement.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 42.23 RCW to read as follows:
     Except as provided in this section, during the period beginning January 1st of a reelection year and continuing through the general election, or until the official is no longer a candidate, a municipal elected official may not make public service announcements. This section does not apply to public service announcements that are part of the regular duties of the officer that only mention or visually display the office or office seal or logo and do not mention or visually display the name of the municipal official in the announcement.