PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 390-20-023 Contributions to candidates, elected officials, political committees, or public office fund--Identification of source.
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 consider repealing this rule. The rule was adopted before the passage of Initiative 134. The rule says, in effect, that if a lobbyist makes a contribution on behalf of one of his or her employers or clients, the lobbyist must inform the recipient of the true source of the contribution. However, Initiative 134 outlawed reimbursements for contributions, thus requiring that all contribution checks be from the actual donor. Since lobbyists may no longer use their own bank checks to make contributions and then be reimbursed by their lobbyist employers, the commission may determine that this rule should be repealed.
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