WSR 98-06-051

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

PUBLIC DISCLOSURE COMMISSION

[Filed February 27, 1998, 2:31 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Amend WAC 390-13-100 Duties of election officials receiving copies of campaign finance reports.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 42.17.370(1) and [42.17].375.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The rule governing the manner in which county election officials handle and process copies of campaign disclosure reports filed with them has not been reviewed since 1983 and it currently does not provide for electronic filing of reports. It is anticipated that if the rule is amended it would neither require filers to make electronic filings, nor require counties to accept electronic filings. It would address the need for counties that do accept electronically filed reports to have equipment available that allows the public to view the reports and generate paper copies of them.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Not applicable.

Process for Developing New Rule: The possibility of amending this rule, as well as others, will be among the topics discussed at the public meeting scheduled for Friday, March 27, 1998, in the 2nd Floor Conference Room of the Evergreen Plaza Building, 711 Capitol Way, Olympia. As part of this meeting, the Public Disclosure Commission's Rules Review Advisory Committee will provide input to the Public Disclosure Commission staff. The public is welcome to attend and participate.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting the Public Disclosure Commission Assistant Director Vicki Rippie at Washington State Public Disclosure Commission, P.O. Box 40908, Olympia, WA 98504-0908, phone (360) 586-4838, FAX (360) 753-1112, e-mail pdc@wln.com. Submit written comments by April 13, 1998. Attend March 27, 1998, meeting referenced above.

February 27, 1998

Melissa Warheit