Brief Description: Creating a committee to host the 2005 NCSL conference.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Economic Development (originally sponsored by Senators West, Brown, Kohl-Welles, T. Sheldon, Shin, Hale, Rossi, Fairley, Spanel, Franklin, Parlette, McAuliffe, Rasmussen and Winsley).

Hearing Date: 3/25/03

Staff: Marsha Reilly (786-7135).

Background:

The Washington State Legislature is hosting the 2005 convention of the NCSL. It is expected that the convention will bring millions of dollars to the state in economic benefits. However, current law limits the activities of state officers and state employees relating to the solicitation and acceptance of gifts.

State ethics laws prohibit state officers and state employees from accepting gifts under circumstances where it could be reasonably expected that the gifts would influence their votes, actions or official judgment, or be considered as part of a reward for action or inaction. Limitations are also placed on gifts of a non-influential nature. Generally, gifts may not be accepted that have an aggregate value of $50 or more during any calendar year from any single source.

Summary of Bill:

The 2005 NCSL host committee is created to plan and host the 2005 convention of the NCSL in Seattle. Committee membership includes the following:

•    Four members of the Senate, including the majority leader and another member of the majority party, and the minority leader and another member of the minority party;

•    Four members of the House of Representatives including the speaker and another member of the majority party, and the minority leader and another member of the minority party;

•    The Lieutenant Governor;

•    The Secretary of the Senate;

•    The Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives; and

•    Two former members of the Legislature, one from each major political party appointed by a majority of the members of the committee.

The majority leader of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives will serve as co-chairs of the committee. Staff from the Senate and the House of representatives will assist the committee and additional resources may be contracted.

A non-appropriated account is established and all receipts designated for and expenditures from are for the limited purposes of hosting the convention. Only the co-chairs or a designee may expend funds from the account and only with the authorization of the committee.

In addition to planning the convention, the committee may accept monetary donations, grants, and in-kind donations, and may engage in or encourage fund-raising activities in support of the convention.

It is no longer a violation of ethics laws for state officers and state employees to solicit for or accept gifts, grants, or donations when it is for the sole purpose of hosting a government conference.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not Requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.