AN ACT Relating to post-primary campaign finance reports; and amending RCW 42.17.080.

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

Sec. 1. Section 8, chapter 1, Laws of 1973 as last amended by section 6, chapter 147, Laws of 1982 and RCW 42.17.080 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) On the day the campaign treasurer is designated, each candidate or political committee shall file with the commission and the county auditor or elections officer of the county in which the candidate resides (or in the case of a political committee supporting or opposing a ballot proposition, the county in which the campaign treasurer resides), in addition to any statement of organization required under RCW 42.17.040 or 42.17.050 ((~~as now or hereafter amended~~)), a report of all contributions received and expenditures made prior to that date, if any.

(2) At the following intervals each campaign treasurer shall file with the commission and the county auditor or elections officer of the county in which the candidate resides (or in the case of a political committee supporting or opposing a ballot proposition, the county in which the campaign maintains its office or headquarters and if there is no office or headquarters then in the county in which the campaign treasurer resides) a report containing the information required by RCW 42.17.090 ((~~as now or hereafter amended~~)):

(a) On the twenty-first day and the seventh day immediately preceding the date on which the election is held; and

(b) Within twenty-one days after the date of the election: PROVIDED, That this report shall not be required following a primary election from (i) a candidate whose name will appear on the subsequent general election ballot, or (ii) any continuing political committee; and

(c) On the tenth day of each month in which no other reports are required to be filed under this section: PROVIDED, That such report shall only be filed if the committee has received a contribution or made an expenditure in the preceding calendar month and either the total contributions received or total expenditures made since the last such report exceed two hundred dollars.

When there is no outstanding debt or obligation, and the campaign fund is closed, and the campaign is concluded in all respects, and in the case of a political committee, the committee has ceased to function and has dissolved, the campaign treasurer shall file a final report. Upon submitting a final report, the duties of the campaign treasurer shall cease and there shall be no obligation to make any further reports.

(3) For the period beginning the first day of the fourth month preceding the date on which the special or general election is held and ending on the date of that election, the campaign treasurer shall file with the commission and the appropriate county elections officer a report of each contribution received during that period at the time that contribution is deposited pursuant to RCW 42.17.060(1) ((~~, as now or hereafter amended~~)). The report shall contain the name of each person contributing the funds so deposited and the amount contributed by each person: PROVIDED, That contributions of less ((~~that [than]~~)) than twenty-five dollars from any one person may be deposited without identifying the contributor. A copy of the report shall be retained by the campaign treasurer for his records. In the event of deposits made by a deputy campaign treasurer, the copy shall be forwarded to the campaign treasurer to be retained by him for his records. Each report shall be certified as correct by the campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer making the deposit.

(4) The campaign treasurer or candidate shall maintain books of account accurately reflecting all contributions and expenditures on a current basis within five business days of receipt or expenditure. During the eight days immediately preceding the date of the election the books of account shall be kept current within one business day and shall be open for public inspection for at least two consecutive hours Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays, between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., as specified in the committee's statement of organization filed pursuant to RCW 42.17.040 ((~~as now or hereafter amended~~)), at the principal campaign headquarters or, if there is no campaign headquarters, at the address of the campaign treasurer or such other place as may be authorized by the commission. The campaign treasurer or candidate shall preserve books of account, bills, receipts, and all other financial records of the campaign or political committee for not less than five calendar years following the year during which the transaction occurred.

(5) All reports filed pursuant to subsections (1) or (2) of this section shall be certified as correct by the candidate and the campaign treasurer.

(6) Copies of all reports filed pursuant to this section shall be readily available for public inspection for at least two consecutive hours Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays, between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., as specified in the committee's statement of organization filed pursuant to RCW 42.17.040 ((~~as now or hereafter amended~~)), at the principal campaign headquarters or, if there is no campaign headquarters, at the address of the campaign treasurer or such other place as may be authorized by the commission.