BILL REQ. #:  H-4044.1 

Read first time 01/17/08.   Referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs.

     AN ACT Relating to the use of publicly funded television stations in city and county elections; and adding a new section to chapter 42.17 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 42.17 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Beginning June 1st of the year of an election for a county or city legislative or executive position and continuing through November 30th immediately after the general election, the incumbent county or city legislative member or executive who is a candidate may not appear on a publicly funded television station, except as follows:
     (a) As a participant at a meeting of the county or city legislative body;
     (b) As part of an open public meeting by members of an elected legislative body to express a collective decision; or
     (c) Acting in an official capacity at an open public event.
     (2) For the purposes of this section, "candidate" means any individual who seeks nomination for election or election to a city or county public office. An individual seeks nomination or election when he or she first:
     (a) Receives contributions or makes expenditures or reserves space or facilities with an intent to promote his or her candidacy for office;
     (b) Announces publicly or files for office;
     (c) Purchases commercial advertising space or broadcast time to promote his or her candidacy; or
     (d) Gives his or her consent to another person to take on behalf of the individual any of the actions in (a) or (c) of this subsection.