PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 390-16-044 Statewide ballot issue signature gathering expenses; reporting.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 42.17.370(1).
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Consistent with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in (WIN) Washington Initiatives Now v. Vicki Rippie the commission will consider repealing WAC 390-16-044 since both the statutory language in RCW 42.17.090 (1)(g) and the rule have been found to violate the First Amendment.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: At its meeting on August 22, 2000, the commission is expected to discuss whether to move forward with repealing WAC 390-16-044. Public comment will be welcome at this meeting. Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by August 21, 2000, to Doug Ellis, Public Disclosure Commission, P.O. Box 40908, Olympia, WA 98504-0908.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting the PDC Director of Public Outreach Doug Ellis, Washington State Public Disclosure Commission, P.O. Box 40908, Olympia, WA 98504-0908, phone (360) 664-2735, toll free 1-877-601-2828, fax (360) 753-1112, e-mail dellis@pdc.wa.gov. A public hearing on these matters may occur on October 24, 2000.
August 2, 2000
V. Rippie
Executive Director