Title: An act relating to surplus political funds.

Brief Description: Providing an alternative manner of dispersing surplus political funds.

Sponsors: Senators McCaslin, Berkey, Oke and Kohl-Welles.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 2/22/05, 3/1/05 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kastama, Chair; Berkey, Vice Chair; Roach, Ranking Minority Member; Benton, Fairley, Haugen, Kline, McCaslin, Mulliken and Pridemore.

Staff: Genevieve Pisarski (786-7488)

Background: State campaign finance law expressly limits what can be done with surplus campaign funds. Surplus funds cannot be transferred to another candidate or political committee, but they can be returned to contributors, used to reimburse a candidate's personal account, transferred to a political party or committee, donated to a charitable organization, deposited in the state general fund, held for a future election, or used for nonreimbursed expenses of public office. Specific requirements apply to each of these uses.

Summary of Bill: In addition to existing authorized ways to dispose of surplus campaign funds, they may be donated to public schools, school districts, or educational service districts.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: Schools are a good purpose for which to use surplus campaign funds. This bill has passed the Senate twice unanimously. It also passed the House committee, but didn't make it to the floor there.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Senator McCaslin, prime sponsor.