H-1085

AN ACT Relating to public inspection of books of account maintained by candidates or authorized committees; and amending RCW 42.17.080.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 42.17.080 and 1995 c 397 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) On the day the treasurer is designated, each candidate or political committee shall file with the commission and the county auditor or elections officer of the county in which the candidate resides, or in the case of a political committee, the county in which the treasurer resides, in addition to any statement of organization required under RCW 42.17.040 or 42.17.050, a report of all contributions received and expenditures made prior to that date, if any.

(2) At the following intervals each treasurer shall file with the commission and the county auditor or elections officer of the county in which the candidate resides, or in the case of a political committee, the county in which the committee maintains its office or headquarters, and if there is no office or headquarters then in the county in which the treasurer resides, a report containing the information required by RCW 42.17.090:

(a) On the twenty-first day and the seventh day immediately preceding the date on which the election is held; and

(b) On the tenth day of the first month after the election: PROVIDED, That this report shall not be required following a primary election from:

(i) A candidate whose name will appear on the subsequent general election ballot; or

(ii) Any continuing political committee; and

(c) On the tenth day of each month in which no other reports are required to be filed under this section: PROVIDED, That such report shall only be filed if the committee has received a contribution or made an expenditure in the preceding calendar month and either the total contributions received or total expenditures made since the last such report exceed two hundred dollars.

When there is no outstanding debt or obligation, and the campaign fund is closed, and the campaign is concluded in all respects, and in the case of a political committee, the committee has ceased to function and has dissolved, the treasurer shall file a final report. Upon submitting a final report, the duties of the treasurer shall cease and there shall be no obligation to make any further reports.

The report filed twenty-one days before the election shall report all contributions received and expenditures made as of the end of the fifth business day before the date of the report. The report filed seven days before the election shall report all contributions received and expenditures made as of the end of the one business day before the date of the report. Reports filed on the tenth day of the month shall report all contributions received and expenditures made from the closing date of the last report filed through the last day of the month preceding the date of the current report.

(3) For the period beginning the first day of the fourth month preceding the date on which the special or general election is held and ending on the date of that election, each Friday the treasurer shall file with the commission and the appropriate county elections officer a report of each bank deposit made during the previous seven calendar days. The report shall contain the name of each person contributing the funds so deposited and the amount contributed by each person. However, contributions of no more than twenty-five dollars in the aggregate from any one person may be deposited without identifying the contributor. A copy of the report shall be retained by the treasurer for his or her records. In the event of deposits made by a deputy treasurer, the copy shall be forwarded to the treasurer for his or her records. Each report shall be certified as correct by the treasurer or deputy treasurer making the deposit.

(4) The treasurer or candidate shall maintain books of account accurately reflecting all contributions and expenditures on a current basis within five business days of receipt or expenditure. During the eight days immediately preceding the date of the election the books of account shall be kept current within one business day ((~~and shall~~)). As specified in the committee's statement of organization filed under RCW 42.17.040, the books of account must be open for public inspection as follows:

(a) For at least two consecutive hours ((~~Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays~~)) on the eighth day immediately before the election, between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., ((~~as specified in the committee's statement of organization filed pursuant to RCW 42.17.040,~~)) at the principal headquarters or, if there is no headquarters, at the address of the treasurer or such other place as may be authorized by the commission; and

(b) By appointment for inspections to be conducted at the designated place 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, other than Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, where an appointment is scheduled during that eighth day immediately before election day, between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

(5) The treasurer or candidate shall preserve books of account, bills, receipts, and all other financial records of the campaign or political committee for not less than five calendar years following the year during which the transaction occurred.

((~~(5)~~)) (6) All reports filed pursuant to subsections (1) or (2) of this section shall be certified as correct by the candidate and the treasurer.

((~~(6)~~)) (7) Copies of all reports filed pursuant to this section shall be readily available for public inspection for at least two consecutive hours Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays, between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., as specified in the committee's statement of organization filed pursuant to RCW 42.17.040, at the principal headquarters or, if there is no headquarters, at the address of the treasurer or such other place as may be authorized by the commission.

((~~(7)~~)) (8) The commission shall adopt administrative rules establishing requirements for filer participation in any system designed and implemented by the commission for the electronic filing of reports.