| Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee | |
HB 1006
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
Brief Description: Studying electronic filing of disclosure reports.
Sponsors: Representatives Moeller and B. Sullivan.
Brief Summary of Bill |
|
Hearing Date: 1/24/07
Staff: Marsha Reilly (786-7135).
Background:
In 1972, Initiative 276 was approved by the voters of Washington. The Public Disclosure Act
(PDA) requires that political campaigns, and lobbying contributions and expenditures, be fully
disclosed to the public, as well as the financial affairs of elected officials and candidates.
Among other provisions, Initiative 276 required candidates and continuing political committees
to file statements of organization and make periodic reports of contributions and expenditures,
required public officials to file financial statements, and required persons lobbying the
Legislature or state agencies to register and make periodic reports of their expenditures. The
Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) was created to receive these filings and reports and
enforce these provisions.
In 1999, electronic filing was made available to candidates, public officials, and political
committees for filing financial affairs reports, contribution reports, and expenditure reports. By
2002, filing electronically was mandatory. Electronic filing was made available to lobbyists and
lobbyists employers for submitting their reports in 2002; although it is not mandatory.
Summary of Bill:
The PDC, in consultation with the Department of Information Services, must contract for a
feasibility study to determine the cost of designing, developing, implementing, and maintaining
software to accommodate electronic filing by lobbyists and lobbyists employers, and a database
and query system that results in data that is readily available to the public. The study may also
include other elements that promote public access to information about lobbying activity.
The study must be provided to the Legislature by January 2008.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.