SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5698

BYSenators Pullen, Vognild, Madsen, DeJarnatt and Talmadge

Allowing public employee payroll deductions for political committees.

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 28, 1989; March 1, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5698 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by McCaslin, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; Conner, Pullen, Sutherland.

Senate Staff:Sam Thompson (786-7754); Eugene Green (786-7405)

                  March 1, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS, MARCH 1, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Local government employees may not currently authorize a payroll deduction for political committees, though they may authorize deductions for medical care, insurance and individual retirement account payments.  It is suggested that they be given the option of authorizing a deduction for registered political committees.

SUMMARY:

State and local government employees and the employees of government-supported institutions may authorize a payroll deduction for any political committee registered with the state Public Disclosure Commission or the federal Election Commission. The deduction must be voluntary.  A deduction for a single political committee must be authorized by at least:

      --25 or more officers or employees of a single agency or collective bargaining unit, or

      --100 or more officers or employees of several agencies or collective bargaining units, or

      --25 percent of all the officers or employees of any agency or collective bargaining unit.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The bill is made applicable only to local government employees.  A deduction for a single political committee must be authorized by at least 25 or more employees of a local government and must be approved by the chief administrative officer or the legislative body in his or her absence.  The deduction may be contingent upon payment of an administrative fee to the local government by the employees requesting the deduction or by the political committee.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Cindy Zehnder, Teamsters (pro); Joe Daniels, Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (pro); Kathleen Collins, Association of Washington Cities (con)