(1) The certification required for a candidate or political committee to accept each contribution from a partnership, association, corporation, organization, or other combination of persons must be received in writing, either:
(a) By the date the report including the contribution is due, or within ten business days, whichever is later; or
(b) Within thirty days from the date the contribution is received, so long as the candidate or committee separates uncertified contributions using reasonable accounting methods, to prevent commingling with other contributions, until the certification is received.
(2) Any uncertified contribution must be refunded or returned by the applicable deadline in subsection (1) of this section. The failure to timely refund or return an uncertified contribution constitutes a violation of chapter
42.17A RCW.
(3) A single certification may apply to future contributions within the same election cycle if the certification provides, in addition to the requirements under subsection (5) of this section, a statement that:
(a) Future contributions included in the certification will be part of a regularly scheduled transaction cycle, and funded from the same source as the original contribution; and
(b) The entity will provide a separate certification for any additional contribution that does not meet the criteria of (a) of this subsection.
(4) A candidate or political committee is not required to obtain a certification for:
(a) A contribution from a political committee if the contributing committee is:
(i) Currently registered with the commission at the time the contribution is received, and reporting its contributions received; and
(ii) Entirely funded through contributions received; or
(b) Any in-kind contribution from an entity, that in the aggregate within the same reporting period, does not exceed fifty dollars.
(5) Candidate or political committees may make certifications available to entities for electronic or other written submission. Certifications may include the suggested format below, or a different format that includes the following information:
(a) The name of the entity making the contribution and the authorized agent;
(b) A statement that the entity is not a foreign national, as defined in RCW
42.17A.005(24);
(c) A statement that the contribution is not financed in any part by a foreign national;
(d) A statement that foreign nationals were not involved in making decisions regarding the contribution in any way;
(e) The amount of the contribution and the date it was made; and
(f) The date the certification was submitted.
Certification that Contribution Is Not From a Foreign National |
I certify that the entity _____ |
(name of entity) making this contribution is not organized under the laws of, and does not have its principal place of business in, a foreign country. This contribution is not financed in any part by a foreign national, and foreign nationals were not involved in making decisions regarding the contribution in any way. |
Amount of Contribution: |
Date of Contribution: |
Name of Authorized Agent: |
Date Submitted: |