SENATE BILL REPORT
E3SHB 1005
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. |
As of February 25, 2014
Title: An act relating to the public disclosure commission concerning responsibilities and funding.
Brief Description: Requiring certain campaign reports to be filed electronically.
Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Moeller, Wylie, Reykdal, Appleton, Ryu, Morrell, McCoy, Seaquist, Moscoso, Hudgins, Ormsby and Pollet).
Brief History: Passed House: 2/17/14, 97-0.
Committee Activity: Governmental Operations: 2/27/14.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS |
Staff: Samuel Brown (786-7470)
Background: The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) is the state's campaign finance regulatory agency. It is empowered to provide timely public access to information about the financing of political campaigns, lobbyist expenditures, and the financial affairs of public officials and candidates; and to ensure compliance with contribution limits and other campaign finance restrictions.
In 1999 electronic filing was made available to candidates, public officials, and political committees for filing financial affairs reports, contribution reports, and expenditure reports. By 2002 electronic filing was mandatory. Electronic filing was made available to lobbyists and lobbyist employers for submitting their reports in 2002, although it is not mandatory. In 2013 the Legislature passed SHB 1093, requiring state agencies to file all lobbying reports with the PDC electronically. Electronic filing includes, but is not limited to, filing by diskette, modem, satellite, or over the Internet.
Funding was made available to the PDC in the fiscal year 2008 budget for a feasibility study to determine the cost to design, develop, implement, and maintain an application to accommodate electronic filing by lobbyists, lobbyist employers, and public agencies, as well as a database and query system compatible with current computer architecture, technology, and operating systems.
Summary of Bill: Beginning January 1, 2016, all lobbyists and lobbyists' employers required to report lobbying activities must file the required reports electronically over the Internet.
The PDC must design, develop, implement, and maintain computer hardware and software or other applications and a database and query system compatible with current architecture, technology, and operating systems to accommodate electronic filing of lobbying reports.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.