SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6289

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

          State & Local Government, January 20, 2000

Title:  An act relating to the day when a political committee's account books must be open for inspection.

Brief Description:  Excusing political committees from keeping their books open on legal holidays.

Sponsors:  Senators Patterson and Winsley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  1/17/2000, 1/20/2000 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6289 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Haugen, Horn and McCaslin.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786-7405)

Background:  A candidate or his or her treasurer must maintain books of account accurately reflecting all contributions and expenditures.  The books of account must be open for public inspection for at least two consecutive hours between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on the eighth day immediately before the election and by appointment for inspections between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on any other day from the seventh day through the day immediately before the election.  Continuing political committees also have inspection requirements for their books of account.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  When the eighth day before an election falls on a legal holiday, the books of account for a candidate must be available for two consecutive hours between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on the seventh day; however, the books do not also have to be available by appointment on that seventh day under this circumstance.  Inspection requirements for books of account of a continuing political committee are made the same as for a candidate.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill omitted books of account for continuing political committees.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This bill is necessary to clean up an omission from last session.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Vicki Rippie, PDC (pro).