WSR 11-01-054

PROPOSED RULES

PUBLIC DISCLOSURE COMMISSION


[ Filed December 7, 2010, 2:40 p.m. ]

     Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 10-12-110.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 390-18-010 Advertising, political advertising, electioneering communications, and independent expenditures and 390-18-030 Advertising -- Exemptions from identification.

     Hearing Location(s): Commission Hearing Room, 711 Capitol Way, Room 206, Olympia, WA 98504, on January 27, 2011, at 9:30 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: January 27, 2011.

     Submit Written Comments to: Lori Anderson, Public Disclosure Commission (PDC), P.O. Box 40908, Olympia, WA 98504-0908, e-mail lori.anderson@pdc.wa.gov, fax (360) 753-1112, by January 25, 2011.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jana Greer by phone (360) 586-0544.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Amend WAC 390-18-010 to implement 2SHB 2016 (section 505, chapter 204, Laws of 2010), clarifying what disclaimers must be included when political advertising qualifies as an independent expenditure or electioneering communication.

     Amend WAC 390-18-030 to implement 2SHB 2016 (section 505, chapter 204, Laws of 2010), confirming that certain types of political advertising are exempt from sponsor ID.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: To provide guidance and clarification to sponsors of political advertisements affected by 2010 legislation.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 42.17.370(1).

     Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 204, Laws of 2010.

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Agency Comments or Recommendations, if any, as to Statutory Language, Implementation, Enforcement, and Fiscal Matters: The rule amendments are designed to clarify requirements for political advertising imposed by 2SHB 2016 (section 505, chapter 204, Laws of 2010).

     Name of Proponent: PDC, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation: Lori Anderson, 711 Capitol Way, Room 206, Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 664-2737; and Enforcement: Phil Stutzman, 711 Capitol Way, Room 206, Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 664-8853.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The implementation of these rule amendments has minimal impact on small businesses.

     A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. The PDC is not an agency listed in subsection (5)(a)(i) of section 201. Further, the PDC does not voluntarily make section 201 applicable to the adoption of these rules pursuant to subjection [subsection] (5)(a)(i) of section 201, and, to date, JARRC has not made section 201 applicable to the adoption of these rules.

December 7, 2010

Lori Anderson

Communications and

Training Officer

OTS-3617.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 06-11-132, filed 5/23/06, effective 6/23/06)

WAC 390-18-010   Advertising, political advertising, electioneering communications, and independent expenditures.   (1) For the purposes of chapter 42.17 RCW and TITLE 390 WAC:

     (a) "Sponsor of an electioneering communication, independent expenditure or political advertising" is defined in RCW 42.17.020.

     (b) Unless the context clearly provides otherwise, "advertising" or "advertisement" means political advertising, electioneering communications, or independent expenditures that are for political advertising and/or electioneering communications subject to the provisions of chapter 42.17 RCW and as defined in RCW 42.17.020 or 42.17.100.

     (2) With advertising for which no payment is demanded or for which a cost is not readily ascertainable, the sponsor is the candidate, political committee or person who solicits or arranges for the advertising to be displayed or broadcast.

     (3) If more than one person sponsors specific advertising, the identity of each sponsor must be shown. However, if a person contributes in cash or in-kind to a candidate or political committee to assist in paying the cost of advertising, that person is not deemed a sponsor provided the contribution is reported in accordance with applicable provisions of chapter 42.17 RCW and TITLE 390 WAC.

     (4) Printed advertising shall clearly state, in an area set apart from any other printed matter, that it has been paid for by the sponsor (Example: (1) Paid for by the XYZ committee, mailing address, city, state, zip code; (2) Vote for John Doe, paid for by John Doe, mailing address, city, state, zip code). However, printed advertising undertaken as an independent expenditure or electioneering communication shall comply with the (("notice to voters")) "no candidate authorized this ad" sponsor identification and, if relevant, the "top five contributors" and identification of the individual, corporation, union, association, or other entity that established, maintains, or controls the sponsoring political committee provisions of RCW 42.17.510 and provide this information in an area set apart from any other printed matter. Political committees that sponsor independent expenditure or electioneering communication printed advertising are required to provide the "top five contributors" to that political committee pursuant to WAC 390-18-025; however, this requirement does not apply to bona fide political parties sponsoring independent expenditures.

     (5)(a) Advertising consisting of more than one page but intended to be presented as a single item (e.g., 3-page letter with return envelope) must identify the sponsor on the first page or fold of the advertising. Identification on an enclosed return envelope or the envelope in which the advertising is sent is not sufficient.

     (b) Advertising which is a collection of several items relating to more than one candidate or committee and distributed simultaneously must show the respective sponsor on the respective items.

     (6) The name of the sponsor of all radio or television advertising shall be clearly spoken or identified as required in RCW 42.17.510.

     (a) All radio, telephone and television advertising undertaken as an independent expenditure as defined in RCW 42.17.020 shall comply with the (("notice to voters")) "no candidate authorized this ad" sponsor identification and, if relevant, the "top five contributors" provisions of RCW 42.17.510 and this information shall be clearly spoken or identified as provided in RCW 42.17.510.

     (b) All radio and television advertising undertaken as an electioneering communication as defined in RCW 42.17.020 shall comply with the (("notice to voters")) "no candidate authorized this ad" sponsor identification and, if relevant, the "top five contributors" provisions of RCW 42.17.510 and this information shall be clearly spoken or identified as provided in RCW 42.17.510.

     (c) Political committees that sponsor independent expenditure or electioneering communication radio and television advertising are required to clearly speak or otherwise identify the "top five contributors" to that political committee pursuant to WAC 390-18-025; however, this requirement does not apply to bona fide political parties sponsoring independent expenditures.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.370 and 42.17.562. 06-11-132, § 390-18-010, filed 5/23/06, effective 6/23/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.370. 03-12-034, § 390-18-010, filed 5/29/03, effective 6/29/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.370(1). 00-22-055, § 390-18-010, filed 10/27/00, effective 11/27/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.370. 93-16-064, § 390-18-010, filed 7/30/93, effective 8/30/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.370(1). 85-15-020 (Order 85-03), § 390-18-010, filed 7/9/85.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 06-11-132, filed 5/23/06, effective 6/23/06)

WAC 390-18-030   Advertising -- Exemptions from identification.   Pursuant to RCW 42.17.510(6), the following forms of advertising need not include the sponsor's name and address, the (("notice to voters" or)) "no candidate authorized this ad" sponsor identification, the "top five contributors," ((information)) or the identification of the individual, corporation, union, association, or other entity that established, maintains, or controls the sponsoring political committee as otherwise required by RCW 42.17.510 (1) and (2) because such identification is impractical: Ashtrays, badges and badge holders, balloons, bingo chips, brushes, bumper stickers -- size 4" x 15" or smaller, buttons, cigarette lighters, clothes pins, clothing, coasters, combs, cups, earrings, emery boards, envelopes, erasers, frisbees, glasses, golf balls, golf tees, hand-held signs, hats, horns, ice scrapers, inscriptions, key rings, knives, labels, letter openers, magnifying glasses, matchbooks, nail clippers, nail files, newspaper ads of one column inch or less, noisemakers, paper and plastic cups, paper and plastic plates, paper weights, pencils, pendants, pennants, pens, pinwheels, plastic tableware, pocket protectors, pot holders, reader boards where message is affixed in moveable letters, ribbons, 12-inch or shorter rulers, shoe horns, skywriting, staple removers, stickers -- size 2-3/4" x 1" or smaller, sunglasses, sun visors, swizzle sticks, state or local voters pamphlets published pursuant to law, tickets to fund raisers, water towers, whistles, yard signs -- size 4' x 8' or smaller, yo-yos, and all other similar items.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.370 and 42.17.562. 06-11-132, § 390-18-030, filed 5/23/06, effective 6/23/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.370(1). 04-12-057, § 390-18-030, filed 5/28/04, effective 6/28/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.390. 95-01-074A, § 390-18-030, filed 12/16/94, effective 1/16/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.370(1). 85-15-020 (Order 85-03), § 390-18-030, filed 7/9/85.]

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