SENATE BILL REPORT

EHB 2655

BYRepresentatives R. Fisher and Pruitt

Changing reporting requirements for lobbyists and for employers of lobbyists.

House Committe on State Government

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 20, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; DeJarnatt, Patrick, Sutherland.

Senate Staff:Barbara Howard (786-7410)

                  February 23, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS, FEBRUARY 20, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Lobbying.  The public disclosure laws define "lobbying" as attempts to influence the passage or defeat of any state legislation or the adoption or rejection of any rule of a state agency under the Administrative Procedure Act.  Although persons who lobby are required to register with the Public Disclosure Commission, exemptions from this requirement are established by law for a number of lobbying activities.  Registered lobbyists must file monthly reports with the commission.  Employers of lobbyists must file annual reports with the commission.

In 1987, the Legislature enacted legislation expressly requiring registered lobbyists and employers of lobbyists to report their expenses for the following activities:  the development of legislation or rules, the development of support for or opposition to legislation or rules, and attempts to influence the development of legislation or rules.

Grass Roots Lobbying.  Special monthly reports regarding expenditures for grass roots lobbying must also be filed with the commission.  (Grass roots lobbying is lobbying directed at the public but which is designed to influence legislation.)  If the expenditures should be contained in other reports that must be filed with the commission, these special monthly reports are not required.

SUMMARY:

Lobbying.  Provisions of the public disclosure law are deleted that expressly require lobbyists and their employers to report expenditures for the development of legislation or rules, the development of support for or opposition to legislation or rules, and attempts to influence the development of legislation or rules.  An association's or organization's act of communicating with the members of that association or organization does not constitute lobbying.

Contributions by a Lobbyist's Employer.  The employer of a registered lobbyist must file a special report with the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) if the employer makes contributions aggregating more than $100 during a calendar month to any one of the following:  a candidate, political committee, elected official, or agency officer or employee.  The report must be filed within 15 days of the end of the month during which the contributions were made.  This reporting requirement does not apply if the contributions were made through and reported by a registered lobbyist.

Grass Roots Lobbying.  Grass roots lobbying expressly includes expenditures made by a public utility for a program that is primarily for influencing legislation and that is directed at any large portion of the utility's subscribers.

The annual report of a lobbyist's employer may no longer be used for reporting grass roots lobbying in lieu of filing a grass roots lobbying report with the PDC.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

The requirement that a public utility report expenditures directed at its ratepayers is deleted.

Senate Committee - Testified: Dale Vincent, U.S. West (pro); Jim Justin, Association of Washington Cities (pro); Graham Johnson, PDC (pro); Duke Schaub, Association of General Contractors (pro)