S-1601               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 4166

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senator Gaspard

Read first time 2/8/85 and referred to Committee on Judiciary.

AN ACT Relating to fair campaign practices; and adding new sections to chapter 42.17 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The purpose of sections 2 through 4 of this act is to assure that all political campaigns in the state of Washington be conducted in a climate which promotes the discussion of issues, the accurate and truthful presentation of the records and policies of the various candidates and ballot issues, the formulation of proper debate, and to make certain that future political campaigns shall be conducted on a high plane of ethical responsibility and respect for the rights of the individual and political party to full and equal participation in the electoral process.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     No candidate, person, political party, or political committee in the course of any campaign subject to the provisions of this chapter shall knowingly engage in, commit, authorize, or allow any of the following acts or practices:

          (1) Larceny, or other wrongful taking, or diversion, or misappropriation, of campaign materials or assets;

          (2) Placing one's own employee or agent in the campaign organization of another candidate or political committee or offering compensation to a member of another's campaign staff for the purpose of undermining the campaign; or wiretapping or other means of electronic surveillance contrary to state or federal law;

          (3) The preparation or distribution of any fraudulent, forged, or falsely identified writings;

          (4) Libelous or slanderous attacks on any candidate or his staff or his personal or family life;

          (5) The use of the title of any office never held by the candidate or indication of membership in an organization of which the candidate was never a member, use of the phrase "reelect" when in fact the candidate is not an elected incumbent of the office for which he is a candidate;

          (6) Knowing misrepresentation of facts with respect to a candidate's voting record or other public record, or attributing a particular position to a candidate solely by virtue of such candidate's membership in any organization which may have issued a statement advocating or opposing any particular position;

          (7) Use of altered photographs which falsely or deceptively portray the situation or scene depicted therein;

          (8) The use of fraudulent or untrue endorsements; or

          (9) Any acts intended to hinder or prevent any eligible person from registering to vote or voting.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The public disclosure commission shall be empowered to investigate and report any apparent violations of section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     Sections 1 through 3 of this act are each added to chapter 42.17 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.