Revised Code of Washington - RCW Title 42 Public Officers And Agencies - Chapter 42.17 Disclosure -- Campaign Finances -- Lobbying

42.17.010 Declaration of policy
It is hereby declared by the sovereign people to be the public policy of the state of Washington: (1) That political campaign and lobbying contributions ...

42.17.020 Definitions
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Actual malice" means to act with knowledge of falsity ...

42.17.030 Applicability -- Exceptions
The provisions of this chapter relating to the financing of election campaigns shall apply in all election campaigns other than (1) for precinct committee officer; ...

42.17.035 Conservation district exception
Elections of conservation district supervisors held pursuant to chapter 89.08 RCW shall not be considered general or special elections for purposes of the campaign disclosure ...

42.17.040 Statement of organization by political committees
(1) Every political committee, within two weeks after its organization or, within two weeks after the date when it first has the expectation of receiving ...

42.17.050 Treasurer -- Depositories
(1) Each candidate, within two weeks after becoming a candidate, and each political committee, at the time it is required to file a statement of ...

42.17.060 Deposit of contributions -- Investment -- Unidentified contributions -- Cash contributions
(1) All monetary contributions received by a candidate or political committee shall be deposited by the treasurer or deputy treasurer in a depository in an ...

42.17.065 Filing and reporting by continuing political committee
(1) In addition to the provisions of this section, a continuing political committee shall file and report on the same conditions and at the same ...

42.17.067 Fund-raising activities -- Alternative reporting method
(1) Fund-raising activities which meet the standards of subsection (2) of this section may be reported in accordance with the provisions of this section in ...

42.17.070 Expenditures -- Authorization of and restrictions on
No expenditures may be made or incurred by any candidate or political committee except on the authority of the candidate or the person or persons ...

42.17.080 Reporting of contributions and expenditures -- Inspection of accounts
(1) On the day the treasurer is designated, each candidate or political committee shall file with the commission and the county auditor or elections officer ...

42.17.090 Contents of report
(1) Each report required under RCW 42.17.080 (1) and (2) shall disclose the following: (a) The funds on hand at the beginning of the period; ...

42.17.093 Out-of-state political committees -- Reports
(1) An out-of-state political committee organized for the purpose of supporting or opposing candidates or ballot propositions in another state that is not otherwise required ...

42.17.095 Disposal of surplus funds
The surplus funds of a candidate, or of a political committee supporting or opposing a candidate, may only be disposed of in any one or ...

42.17.100 Special reports -- Independent expenditures
(1) For the purposes of this section and RCW 42.17.550 the term "independent expenditure" means any expenditure that is made in support of or in ...

42.17.103 Special reports -- Political advertising
(1) The sponsor of political advertising who, within twenty-one days of an election, publishes, mails, or otherwise presents to the public political advertising supporting or ...

42.17.105 Special reports -- Late contributions or large totals -- Certain late contributions prohibited
(1) Campaign treasurers shall prepare and deliver to the commission a special report regarding any contribution or aggregate of contributions which: Is one thousand dollars ...

42.17.110 Commercial advertisers -- Public inspection of documents -- Copies to commission
(1) Each commercial advertiser who has accepted or provided political advertising or electioneering communications during the election campaign shall maintain open for public inspection during ...

42.17.120 Identification of contributions and communications
No contribution shall be made and no expenditure shall be incurred, directly or indirectly, in a fictitious name, anonymously, or by one person through an ...

42.17.125 Personal use of contributions -- When permitted
Contributions received and reported in accordance with RCW 42.17.060 through 42.17.090 may only be transferred to the personal account of a candidate, or of a ...

42.17.128 Use of public funds for political purposes
Public funds, whether derived through taxes, fees, penalties, or any other sources, shall not be used to finance political campaigns for state or school district ...

42.17.130 Use of public office or agency facilities in campaigns -- Prohibition -- Exceptions
No elective official nor any employee of his [or her] office nor any person appointed to or employed by any public office or agency may ...

42.17.131 Exemption from RCW 42.17.130
RCW 42.17.130 does not apply to any person who is a state officer or state employee as defined in RCW 42.52.010.[1994 c 154 § 317.]Notes: ...

42.17.135 Earmarked contributions
A candidate or political committee receiving a contribution earmarked for the benefit of another candidate or political committee shall: (1) Report the contribution as required ...

42.17.150 Registration of lobbyists
(1) Before doing any lobbying, or within thirty days after being employed as a lobbyist, whichever occurs first, a lobbyist shall register by filing with ...

42.17.155 Photograph and information -- Booklet -- Publication
Each lobbyist shall at the time he or she registers submit to the commission a recent photograph of himself or herself of a size and ...

42.17.160 Exemption from registration
The following persons and activities shall be exempt from registration and reporting under RCW 42.17.150, 42.17.170, and 42.17.200: (1) Persons who limit their lobbying activities ...

42.17.170 Reporting by lobbyists
(1) Any lobbyist registered under RCW 42.17.150 and any person who lobbies shall file with the commission periodic reports of his or her activities signed ...

42.17.172 Notification to person named in report
When a listing or a report of contributions is made to the commission under RCW 42.17.170(2)(c), a copy of the listing or report must be ...

42.17.175 Special reports -- Lobbyists -- Late contributions or large totals
Any lobbyist registered under RCW 42.17.150, any person who lobbies, and any lobbyist's employer making a contribution or an aggregate of contributions to a single ...

42.17.180 Reports by employers of registered lobbyists, other persons
(1) Every employer of a lobbyist registered under this chapter during the preceding calendar year and every person other than an individual that made contributions ...

42.17.190 Legislative activities of state agencies, other units of government, elective officials, employees
(1) The house of representatives and the senate shall report annually: The total budget; the portion of the total attributed to staff; and the number ...

42.17.200 Grass roots lobbying campaigns
(1) Any person who has made expenditures, not reported by a registered lobbyist under RCW 42.17.170 or by a candidate or political committee under RCW ...

42.17.210 Employment of legislators, board or commission members, or state employees -- Statement, contents and filing
If any person registered or required to be registered as a lobbyist under this chapter employs, or if any employer of any person registered or ...

42.17.220 Employment of unregistered persons
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to employ for pay or any consideration, or pay or agree to pay any ...

42.17.230 Lobbyists' duties, restrictions
A person required to register as a lobbyist under this chapter shall also have the following obligations, the violation of which shall constitute cause for ...

42.17.240 Elected and appointed officials, candidates, and appointees -- Reports of financial affairs and gifts
(1) Every elected official and every executive state officer shall after January 1st and before April 15th of each year file with the commission a ...

42.17.2401 "Executive state officer" defined
For the purposes of RCW 42.17.240, the term "executive state officer" includes: (1) The chief administrative law judge, the director of agriculture, the administrator of ...

42.17.241 Contents of report
(1) The statement of financial affairs required by RCW 42.17.240 shall disclose for the reporting individual and each member of his or her immediate family: ...

42.17.242 Concealing identity of source of payment prohibited -- Exception
No payment shall be made to any person required to report under RCW 42.17.240 and no payment shall be accepted by any such person, directly ...

42.17.243 Public office fund -- What constitutes, restrictions on use -- Reporting of -- Disposal of remaining funds
Notes: Reviser's note: RCW 42.17.243 was amended by 1991 sp.s. c 18 § 4 without reference to its repeal by 1993 c 2 § 35 ...

42.17.245 Public accounts of governmental entities held by financial institutions -- Statements and reports -- Contents -- Filing
After January 1st and before April 15th of each calendar year, the state treasurer, each county, public utility district, and port district treasurer, and each ...

42.17.350 Public disclosure commission -- Established -- Membership -- Prohibited activities -- Compensation, travel expenses
(1) There is hereby established a "public disclosure commission" which shall be composed of five members who shall be appointed by the governor, with the ...

42.17.360 Commission -- Duties
The commission shall: (1) Develop and provide forms for the reports and statements required to be made under this chapter; (2) Prepare and publish a ...

42.17.362 Toll-free telephone number
In addition to its regular telephone number, the commission shall offer political committees and residents of this state the opportunity to contact the commission by ...

42.17.365 Audits and investigations
The commission shall conduct a sufficient number of audits and field investigations so as to provide a statistically valid finding regarding the degree of compliance ...

42.17.367 Web site for commission documents
By February 1, 2000, the commission shall operate a web site or contract for the operation of a web site that allows access to reports, ...

42.17.369 Electronic filing -- Availability
(1) By July 1, 1999, the commission shall make available to candidates, public officials, and political committees that are required to file reports under this ...

42.17.3691 Electronic filing -- When required
(1) Beginning January 1, 2002, each candidate or political committee that expended twenty-five thousand dollars or more in the preceding year or expects to expend ...

42.17.370 Commission -- Additional powers
The commission is empowered to: (1) Adopt, promulgate, amend, and rescind suitable administrative rules to carry out the policies and purposes of this chapter, which ...

42.17.375 Reports filed with county elections official -- Rules governing
With regard to the reports required by this chapter to be filed with a county auditor or county elections official, the commission shall adopt rules ...

42.17.380 Secretary of state, attorney general -- Duties
(1) The office of the secretary of state shall be designated as a place where the public may file papers or correspond with the commission ...

42.17.390 Civil remedies and sanctions
One or more of the following civil remedies and sanctions may be imposed by court order in addition to any other remedies provided by law: ...

42.17.395 Violations -- Determination by commission -- Procedure
(1) The commission may (a) determine whether an actual violation of this chapter has occurred; and (b) issue and enforce an appropriate order following such ...

42.17.397 Procedure upon petition for enforcement of order of commission -- Court's order of enforcement
The following procedure shall apply in all cases where the commission has petitioned a court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of any order it has ...

42.17.400 Enforcement
(1) The attorney general and the prosecuting authorities of political subdivisions of this state may bring civil actions in the name of the state for ...

42.17.405 Suspension, reapplication of reporting requirements in small political subdivisions
(1) Except as provided in subsections (2), (3), and (7) of this section, the reporting provisions of this chapter do not apply to candidates, elected ...

42.17.410 Limitation on actions
Except as provided in RCW 42.17.400(4)(a)(iv), any action brought under the provisions of this chapter must be commenced within five years after the date when ...

42.17.420 Date of mailing deemed date of receipt -- Exceptions -- Electronic filings
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, when any application, report, statement, notice, or payment required to be made under the provisions ...

42.17.430 Certification of reports
Every report and statement required to be filed under this chapter shall identify the person preparing it, and shall be certified as complete and correct, ...

42.17.440 Statements and reports public records
All statements and reports filed under this chapter shall be public records of the agency where they are filed, and shall be available for public ...

42.17.450 Duty to preserve statements and reports
Persons with whom statements or reports or copies of statements or reports are required to be filed under this chapter shall preserve them for not ...

42.17.460 Access to reports -- Legislative intent
It is the intent of the legislature to ensure that the commission provide the general public timely access to all contribution and expenditure reports submitted ...

42.17.461 Access goals
(1) The commission shall establish goals that all reports, copies of reports, or copies of the data or information included in reports, filed under RCW ...

42.17.463 Access performance measures
By July 1st of each year beginning in 2000, the commission shall calculate the following performance measures, provide a copy of the performance measures to ...

42.17.465 Information technology plan -- Contents
(1) The commission shall develop an information technology plan consistent with plans or portfolios required by chapter 43.105 RCW. (2) The plan must include, but ...

42.17.467 Information technology plan -- Consultation
In preparing the information technology plan, the commission shall consult with affected state agencies, the department of information services, and stakeholders in the commission's work, ...

42.17.469 Information technology plan -- Submission
The commission shall submit the information technology plan to the senate and house of representatives fiscal committees, the governor, the senate state and local government ...

42.17.471 Access performance reports
The commission shall prepare and submit to the department of information services a biennial performance report in accordance with chapter 43.105 RCW. The report must ...

42.17.510 Identification of sponsor -- Exemptions
(1) All written political advertising, whether relating to candidates or ballot propositions, shall include the sponsor's name and address. All radio and television political advertising, ...

42.17.520 Picture of candidate
At least one picture of the candidate used in any political advertising shall have been taken within the last five years and shall be no ...

42.17.530 False political advertising or electioneering communication
(1) It is a violation of this chapter for a person to sponsor with actual malice: (a) Political advertising or an electioneering communication that contains ...

42.17.540 Responsibility for compliance
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the responsibility for compliance with RCW 42.17.510 through 42.17.530 shall rest with the sponsor of ...

42.17.550 Independent expenditure disclosure
A person or entity other than a party organization making an independent expenditure by mailing one thousand or more identical or nearly identical cumulative pieces ...

42.17.561 Findings
The legislature finds that: (1) Timely disclosure to voters of the identity and sources of funding for electioneering communications is vitally important to the integrity ...

42.17.562 Intent
Based upon the findings in RCW 42.17.561, chapter 445, Laws of 2005 is narrowly tailored to accomplish the following and is intended to: (1) Improve ...

42.17.565 Report -- Information required -- Time -- Method -- By whom -- Penalty
(1) A payment for or promise to pay for any electioneering communication shall be reported to the commission by the sponsor on forms the commission ...

42.17.570 When a contribution
(1) An electioneering communication made by a person in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, a candidate, a candidate's ...

42.17.575 Recordkeeping
(1) The sponsor of an electioneering communication shall preserve all financial records relating to the communication, including books of account, bills, receipts, contributor information, and ...

42.17.610 Findings
The people of the state of Washington find and declare that: (1) The financial strength of certain individuals or organizations should not permit them to ...

42.17.620 Intent
By limiting campaign contributions, the people intend to: (1) Ensure that individuals and interest groups have fair and equal opportunity to influence elective and governmental ...

42.17.640 Limits specified -- Exemptions
(1) The contribution limits in this section apply to: (a) Candidates for state legislative office; (b) Candidates for state office other than state legislative office; ...

42.17.645 Candidates for judicial office -- Special elections to fill vacancies -- Contribution limits -- Adjustments
(1) No person may make contributions to a candidate for judicial office that in the aggregate exceed one thousand four hundred dollars for each election ...

42.17.647 Rules
The commission shall adopt rules to carry out the policies of chapter 348, Laws of 2006 and is not subject to the time restrictions of ...

42.17.650 Attribution and aggregation of family contributions
(1) Contributions by a husband and wife are considered separate contributions. (2) Contributions by unemancipated children under eighteen years of age are considered contributions by ...

42.17.660 Attribution of contributions by controlled entities
For purposes of this chapter: (1) A contribution by a political committee with funds that have all been contributed by one person who exercises exclusive ...

42.17.670 Attribution of contributions generally -- "Earmarking.
All contributions made by a person or entity, either directly or indirectly, to a candidate, to a state official against whom recall charges have been ...

42.17.680 Limitations on employers or labor organizations
(1) No employer or labor organization may increase the salary of an officer or employee, or give an emolument to an officer, employee, or other ...

42.17.690 Changing monetary limits
At the beginning of each even-numbered calendar year, the commission shall increase or decrease all dollar amounts in this chapter based on changes in economic ...

42.17.700 Contributions
(1) Contributions to candidates for state office made and received before December 3, 1992, are considered to be contributions under RCW 42.17.640 through 42.17.790. Monetary ...

42.17.710 Time limit for state official to solicit or accept contributions
(1) During the period beginning on the thirtieth day before the date a regular legislative session convenes and continuing through the date of final adjournment, ...

42.17.720 Restriction on loans
(1) A loan is considered to be a contribution from the lender and any guarantor of the loan and is subject to the contribution limitations ...

42.17.730 Contributions on behalf of another
(1) A person, other than an individual, may not be an intermediary or an agent for a contribution. (2) An individual may not make a ...

42.17.740 Certain contributions required to be by written instrument
(1) A person may not make a contribution of more than *fifty dollars, other than an in-kind contribution, except by a written instrument containing the ...

42.17.750 Solicitation of contributions by public officials or employees
(1) No state or local official or state or local official's agent may knowingly solicit, directly or indirectly, a contribution to a candidate for public ...

42.17.760 Agency shop fees as contributions
(1) A labor organization may not use agency shop fees paid by an individual who is not a member of the organization to make contributions ...

42.17.770 Solicitation of endorsement fees
A person may not solicit from a candidate for public office, political committee, political party, or other person money or other property as a condition ...

42.17.780 Reimbursement for contributions
A person may not, directly or indirectly, reimburse another person for a contribution to a candidate for public office, political committee, or political party.[1995 c ...

42.17.790 Prohibition on use of contributions for a different office
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a candidate for public office or the candidate's political committee may not use or permit ...

42.17.900 Effective date -- 1973 c 1
The effective date of this act shall be January 1, 1973.[1973 c 1 § 49 (Initiative Measure No. 276, approved November 7, 1972).] ...

42.17.910 Severability -- 1973 c 1
If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application ...

42.17.911 Severability -- 1975 1st ex.s. c 294
If any provision of this 1975 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or ...

42.17.912 Severability -- 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 112
If any provision of this 1976 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or ...

42.17.920 Construction -- 1973 c 1
The provisions of this act are to be liberally construed to effectuate the policies and purposes of this act. In the event of conflict between ...

42.17.930 Chapter, section headings not part of law
Chapter and section captions or headings as used in this act do not constitute any part of the law.[1973 c 1 § 48 (Initiative Measure ...

42.17.940 Repealer -- 1973 c 1
Chapter 9, Laws of 1965, as amended by section 9, chapter 150, Laws of 1965 ex. sess., and RCW 29.18.140; and chapter 131, Laws of ...

42.17.945 Construction -- 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 112
The provisions of this 1976 amendatory act are intended to be remedial and shall be liberally construed, and nothing in this 1976 amendatory act shall ...

42.17.950 Captions
Section captions and part headings used in this act do not constitute any part of the law.[1993 c 2 § 34 (Initiative Measure No. 134, ...

42.17.955 Short title -- 1993 c 2
This act may be known and cited as the Fair Campaign Practices Act.[1993 c 2 § 36 (Initiative Measure No. 134, approved November 3, 1992).] ...

42.17.960 Effective date -- 1995 c 397
Sections 1 through 32, 34, and 37 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support ...

42.17.961 Captions -- 1995 c 397
Captions as used in chapter 397, Laws of 1995 constitute no part of the law.[1995 c 397 § 37.] ...

42.17.962 Severability -- 1995 c 397
If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application ...

42.17.963 Part headings not law -- 2005 c 445
Part headings used in this act are not any part of the law.[2005 c 445 § 14.] ...

42.17.964 Severability -- 2005 c 445
If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application ...

42.17.965 Effective dates -- 2005 c 445
Sections 6 and 12 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state ...

42.17.966 Severability -- 2006 c 348
If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application ...