H-0984.2  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2156

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State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives Murray, Poulsen, Tokuda, Gardner, Cole, Fisher, Kenney, Butler, Veloria, Wolfe, Mason, Dunshee, Blalock, Gombosky, Appelwick, H. Sommers, Dickerson, Chopp, Constantine, Cody and O'Brien

Read first time 02/24/97.  Referred to Committee on Government Administration.

Authorizing public financing of local political campaigns.

    AN ACT Relating to authorization for public funds to be used to finance political campaigns for public office; amending RCW 42.17.128; and adding a new section to chapter 42.17 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 42.17 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) A county with a population of five hundred thousand or more, and a city with a population of one hundred thousand or more, may establish a program where a candidate for a county or city elected office voluntarily agrees to abide by limitations on the amount of money the candidate, or the candidate's authorized committee, spends to campaign for the office in return for receiving public matching funds from the county or city that are used to assist in funding his or her campaign.

    (2) A program of public campaign financing under subsection (1) of this section may only be established if voters approve a ballot proposition authorizing the program.  The ballot measure may be placed on the ballot by resolution of the county or city governing body or by initiative action of the voters, if the county or city voters possess the powers of initiative on county or city matters.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 42.17.128 and 1993 c 2 s 24 are each amended to read as follows:

    Public funds, whether derived through taxes, fees, penalties, or any other sources, shall not be used to finance political campaigns for state or local office, unless a program of public campaign financing is approved by voters under section 1 of this act.

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