SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5388

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.

As Passed Senate, March 8, 2019

Title: An act relating to establishing a training course for campaign treasurers.

Brief Description: Establishing a training course for campaign treasurers.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Becker, Bailey, Cleveland, Hunt, Short, O'Ban, King, Keiser, Walsh, Wilson, L., Darneille, Warnick, Honeyford, Brown, Billig, Hasegawa, Van De Wege, Wagoner and Kuderer).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections: 2/15/19, 2/20/19 [DP-WM].

Ways & Means: 3/01/19 [DPS, DNP, w/oRec].

Floor Activity:

Passed Senate: 3/08/19, 37-10.

Brief Summary of First Substitute Bill

Requires that the Public Disclosure Commission develop a training course for campaign treasurers and deputy treasurers.
Prohibits most persons from serving as a campaign treasurer or deputy treasurer for a campaign receiving contributions or making expenditures of more than $5,000 for more than nominal compensation without certification of successfully completing the training course in the past 5 years, beginning May 1, 2020.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, TRIBAL RELATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Signed by Senators Hunt, Chair; Kuderer, Vice Chair; Zeiger, Ranking Member; Bailey, Hasegawa, Hawkins and Takko.

Staff: Samuel Brown (786-7470)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5388 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Rolfes, Chair; Braun, Ranking Member; Honeyford, Assistant Ranking Member, Capital; Becker, Billig, Darneille, Hasegawa, Hunt, Keiser, Liias, Rivers, Schoesler, Wagoner, Warnick and Wilson, L..

Minority Report: Do not pass.

Signed by Senators Carlyle and Pedersen.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.

Signed by Senators Frockt, Vice Chair, Operating, Capital Lead; Mullet, Capital Budget Cabinet; Palumbo and Van De Wege.

Staff: Sarian Scott (786-7729)

Background: The Public Disclosure Commission. The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC), created by the passage of Initiative 276 in 1972, is empowered to provide timely public access to information about the financing of political campaigns, lobbyist expenditures, and the financial affairs of public officials and candidates, and to ensure compliance with contribution limits and other campaign finance restrictions.

Campaign Treasurers. Each candidate and political committee must file the name and address of the candidate or committee's campaign treasurer with the PDC. The campaign may name as many deputy treasurers as deemed necessary.

The treasurer must file contribution and expenditure reports with the PDC 21 and 7 days before the election, as well as on the tenth day of the first month after the election. The treasurer must file contribution and expenditure reports on the tenth of each month where the campaign receives a contribution or makes an expenditure and has received contributions or made expenditures of more than $200 since the last report.

Treasurers must maintain books of account and are responsible for depositing all contributions received by the candidate or committee in the depository designated at the time of initial filing with the PDC.

Summary of First Substitute Bill: Campaign Treasurer Training Course. The PDC must provide a training course for campaign treasurers or deputy treasurers by September 1, 2019. The training course must cover:

responsibilities of treasurers and deputy treasurers;

reporting requirements, deadlines, and contribution limits and restrictions;
how to use the electronic filing system;
penalties for violation of campaign finance laws; and
any other subjects the PDC considers necessary for compliance.

The training course must be provided in person and remotely. The PDC determines the requirements for completion of the course and must develop a system for tracking completion of the course.

Prohibition. By May 1, 2020, no person, other than the candidate themselves or an actively licensed certified public accountant, may serve as a campaign treasurer or deputy treasurer for a campaign receiving contributions or making expenditures of more than $5,000 for more than nominal compensation without certification of successful completion of the training course within the past five years.

Appropriation: The bill contains a section or sections to limit implementation to the availability of amounts appropriated for that specific purpose.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill (State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections): PRO: Due to a lack of training, many legislators have received campaign finance complaints—this bill gives us the opportunity to make correct filings the first time. Since the training can be offered online, costs can be kept down.

Persons Testifying (State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections): PRO: Senator Randi Becker, Prime Sponsor.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections): No one.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill (Ways & Means): The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. None.

Persons Testifying (Ways & Means): No one.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Ways & Means): No one.