SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6275

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

State & Local Government, January 24, 2002

Title:  An act relating to reporting contributions under the public disclosure act.

Brief Description:  Regarding campaign contributions.

Sponsors:  Senators Gardner, Horn, Haugen and Fairley; by request of Public Disclosure Commission.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  1/16/02, 1/24/02. [DP]

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Gardner, Chair; Fairley, Vice Chair; Hale, Haugen, Horn, Keiser, Kline, Roach and T. Sheldon.

Staff:  Diane Smith (786‑7410)

Background:  Since the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) was created by Initiative Measure No. 276 in 1972, various relevant laws have been amended and consolidated, resulting in unintentional anomalies.  Court decisions have also made part of the PDC law a vestige from prior eras of constitutional construction.

Candidates and political committees must report campaign contributions and expenditures, and allow the PDC to inspect their accounts.  The filing day for weekly contribution reports that begin on July 1 of every year is on each Friday.

Summary of Bill:  The definitions of "general election" and "primary" are clarified to apply to the contribution limits section of law.

The filing day for weekly contribution reports is moved to Mondays.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Moving the reporting day from Friday to Monday gives the whole weekend for preparing the report.  This extra time is often much needed.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Rick Slunaker, ASC of WA; Vicki Rippie, PDC.