SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5417

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Title: An act relating to the distribution of legislators' contact cards, newsletters, government guides, or similar printed materials produced with legislative resources.

Brief Description: Allowing for the distribution of legislators' contact cards, newsletters, government guides, or similar printed materials produced with legislative resources in certain circumstances.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections (originally sponsored by Senators Becker, Swecker, Benton, Stevens, Delvin, Honeyford, Sheldon, Hatfield, Hobbs, Shin, Roach and Kline).

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5417 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Pridemore, Chair; Prentice, Vice Chair; Swecker, Ranking Minority Member; Nelson and Roach.

Background: No state officer or state employee may use or authorize the use of facilities of an agency, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of assisting a campaign for election of a person to an office or for the promotion of or opposition to a ballot proposition.

Facilities of an agency include, but are not limited to, use of stationery, postage, machines and equipment, use of state employees of the agency during working hours, vehicles, office space, publications of the agency, and clientele lists of persons served by the agency.

Certain activities are exempt from the general prohibition against the use of facilities of an agency, such as de minimis use incidental to the preparation or delivery of permissible communications and activities that are part of the normal and regular conduct of the office or agency.

Summary of Substitute Bill: The distribution throughout a legislator's district of contact cards, newsletters, government guides, or similar printed materials, produced with legislative resources, at community centers, libraries, senior centers, city halls, and similar civic centers or public sites for the purpose of informing the public as to legislative matters or providing information on how the public may contact legislators or participate in legislative proceedings are not prohibited activities.

No materials may be prepared or distributed for campaign purposes.