Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
State Government, Elections & Information Technology Committee |
HB 1834
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: Concerning campaign finance reporting.
Sponsors: Representatives Dolan, Jinkins, Doglio and Ortiz-Self; by request of Public Disclosure Commission.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/8/17
Staff: Sean Flynn (786-7124).
Background:
Washington's campaign finance and disclosure law was enacted by voter initiative in 1972. The law requires the disclosure of campaign finances, lobbyist activities, and financial affairs of elective officers and candidates. The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) enforces the provisions of the campaign finance disclosure law. The PDC has the authority to develop procedures, adopt rules, investigate complaints, and enforce the laws relating to campaign disclosure and contributions, including civil penalties.
Under the campaign finance and disclosure law, political committees must file a statement of organization with the PDC. A political committee includes any entity organized to receive contributions and make expenditures to support or oppose any political candidate or ballot measure. Political committees must periodically report to the PDC on their contribution and expenditure activities. An initial report is due the same day the statement of organization is filed. Subsequently, reports are due 21 days and seven days before the election, one month after the election, and each month the committee receives or spends at least $200.
A political committee also must submit a special report period each time it receives an aggregate contribution of $1,000 or more during the period within 21 days before an election or within the period before a primary after the last report has been filed. After filing such a special report, an additional special report is due for each additional contribution of any amount from the same source during the special reporting period.
Persons unaffiliated with a political committee or candidate who make independent expenditures that pay for political advertising also must report to the PDC. The initial report is due within five days of making such any independent expenditure over $100. Other reports are due 21 days and seven days before the election, one month after the election, and each subsequent month the person makes an independent expenditure.
Summary of Bill:
The reporting schedules for political committees and independent expenditures are eliminated. Political committees are required to file reports each month, in addition to filing the initial report. Persons required to report independent expenditures must report any additional expenditures each month.
Political committees must file a special report when it receives a contribution over $10,000 during the applicable periods immediately before an election. The monetary threshold does not include totaling the aggregate contributions from a single entity. Additional reports are not required for any subsequent contributions from the same source during the same special reporting period.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.