PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 390-20-100 Effect of Public Disclosure Act--Freedom of communication--Employer interference.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 42.17.370(1).
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The commission may decide to repeal this rule. The rule was adopted in early 1973, shortly after the passage of Initiative 276, to assure members of the public that their right to communicate with state officials could not be restricted by the lobbying reporting provisions of the initiative or by their employer. Since the law has now been implemented for over twenty-five years, the commission may determine that the public concern that this rule was designed to address has subsided and the rule is no longer necessary.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: This rule was examined as part of the agency's rule review process. That process includes input from stakeholders who are part of a Rules Review Advisory Committee.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Public Disclosure Commission Assistant Director, Vicki Rippie, P.O. Box 40908, 711 Capitol Way, Room 403, Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 586-4838, fax (360) 753-1112, e-mail vrippie@pdc.wa.gov. A public hearing on any proposed change will likely occur on Tuesday, May 25, 1999. Public testimony will be welcome at that time, or written comments may be submitted by May 12, 1999, for consideration at the hearing.
March 1, 1999
Melissa Warheit
Executive Director
by Vicki Rippie