HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1905

BYRepresentatives Fisher, Nelson and Unsoeld

Revising certain reporting requirements for persons conducting grass roots lobbying campaigns.

House Committe on Constitution, Elections & Ethics

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment.  (7)

      Signed by Representatives Fisher, Chair; Pruitt, Vice Chair; Amondson, Barnes, R. King, Leonard and Sanders.

House Staff:Kenneth Hirst (786-7105)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTION, ELECTIONS & ETHICS

FEBRUARY 1, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The public disclosure laws require a person who sponsors a grass roots lobbying campaign to register with the Public Disclosure Commission within 30 days and to file monthly reports until the campaign is terminated.  A grass roots lobbying campaign is a program addressed to the public a substantial portion of which is intended primarily to influence state legislation or state legislative matters.  The registration and reporting requirements apply if: the expenditures are not reported in other reports which are required to be filed under the public disclosure laws; and the expenditures exceed $500 in the aggregate within a three month period or exceed $200 in the aggregate within a one month period.

With certain exceptions, the disclosure laws require candidates, political committees, elected officials, various appointed officials, lobbyists, and employers of lobbyists to file disclosure reports with the Commission.

SUMMARY:

BILL AS AMENDED:  The public disclosure laws governing grass roots lobbying campaigns are amended.  A provision is repealed which exempts, from the registration and reporting requirements that apply to such lobbying campaigns, expenditures for grass roots lobbying campaigns if the expenditures are otherwise reported under the public disclosure laws.  With regard to expenditures by a public utility, the "public" addressed by a grass roots lobbying campaign includes any large portion of the subscribers to the services of the public utility.

AMENDED BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The provisions of the bill concerning expenditures by a public utility are added by the amendment.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.