Title 42 — Title 42 PUBLIC OFFICERS AND AGENCIES
20 chapters · 471 sections in this title.
RCW 42.17A.425 Expenditures—Authorization of and restrictions on.
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No expenditures may be made or incurred by any candidate or political committee unless authorized by the candidate or the person or persons named on the candidate's or committee's registration form. A record of all such expenditures shall be maintained by the treasurer.No expendi…
RCW 42.17A.430 Disposal of surplus funds.
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The surplus funds of a candidate or a candidate's authorized committee may only be disposed of in any one or more of the following ways:(1) Return the surplus to a contributor in an amount not to exceed that contributor's original contribution;(2) Using surplus, reimburse the can…
RCW 42.17A.435 Identification of contributions and communications.
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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 agent, relative, or other person in such a manner as to conceal the identity of the source of the contribution or in any othe…
RCW 42.17A.440 Candidates' political committees—Limitations.
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A candidate may not knowingly establish, use, direct, or control more than one political committee for the purpose of supporting that candidate during a particular election campaign. This does not prohibit: (1) In addition to a candidate's having his or her own political committe…
RCW 42.17A.442 Contributions by political committees to political committees.
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A political committee may make a contribution to another political committee only when the contributing political committee has received contributions of ten dollars or more each from at least ten persons registered to vote in Washington state.[ 2011 c 145 s 5.]Notes:Findings—Int…
RCW 42.17A.445 Personal use of contributions—When permitted.
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Contributions received and reported in accordance with RCW 42.17A.220 through 42.17A.240 and 42.17A.425 may only be paid to a candidate, or a treasurer or other individual or expended for such individual's personal use under the following circumstances:(1) Reimbursement for or pa…
RCW 42.17A.450 Attribution and aggregation of family contributions.
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(1) Contributions by spouses are considered separate contributions.(2) Contributions by unemancipated children under eighteen years of age are considered contributions by their parents and are attributed proportionately to each parent. Fifty percent of the contributions are attri…
RCW 42.17A.455 Attribution of contributions by controlled entities.
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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 control over the distribution of the funds of the political committee is a contribution by the controlling person.(2) Two or mo…
RCW 42.17A.460 Attribution of contributions generally—"Earmarking."
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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 filed, or to a political committee, are considered to be contributions from that person or entity to the candidate, state officia…
RCW 42.17A.465 Restriction on loans.
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(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 of this chapter. The full amount of the loan shall be attributed to the lender and to each guarantor.(2) A loan to a candidate for public off…
RCW 42.17A.470 Contributions on behalf of another.
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(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 contribution on behalf of another person or entity, or while acting as the intermediary or agent of another person or entity, without disclosing to t…
RCW 42.17A.475 Certain contributions required to be by written instrument.
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(1) A person may not make a contribution of more than *one hundred dollars, other than an in-kind contribution, except by a written instrument containing the name of the donor and the name of the payee.(2) A political committee may not make a contribution, other than in-kind, exc…
RCW 42.17A.480 Solicitation of endorsement fees.
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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 or consideration for an endorsement, article, or other communication in the news media promoting or opposing a candidate for p…
RCW 42.17A.485 Reimbursement for contributions.
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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 397 s 26; 1993 c 2 s 18 (Initiative Measure No. 134, approved November 3, 1992). Formerly RCW 42.17.780.]
RCW 42.17A.490 Prohibition on use of contributions for a different office.
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(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a candidate for public office or the candidate's authorized committee may not use or permit the use of contributions, whether or not surplus, solicited for or received by the candidate or the candidate's authorized committ…
RCW 42.17A.495 Limitations on employers or labor organizations.
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(1) No employer or labor organization may increase the salary of an officer or employee, or compensate an officer, employee, or other person or entity, with the intention that the increase in salary, or the compensation, or a part of it, be contributed or spent to support or oppo…
RCW 42.17A.500 Agency shop fees as contributions.
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(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 or expenditures to influence an election or to operate a political committee, unless affirmatively authorized by the individual.(2) A labor or…
RCW 42.17A.550 Use of public funds for political purposes.
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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 office. A county, city, town, or district that establishes a program to publicly finance local political campaigns may…
RCW 42.17A.555 Use of public office or agency facilities in campaigns—Prohibition—Exceptions.
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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 use or authorize the use of any of the facilities of a public office or agency, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of assisting a campaign fo…
RCW 42.17A.560 Time limit for state official to solicit or accept contributions.
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(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, and during the period beginning on the date a special legislative session convenes and continuing through the date tha…
RCW 42.17A.565 Solicitation of contributions by public officials or employees.
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(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 office, political party, or political committee from an employee in the state or local official's agency.(2) No state or local…
RCW 42.17A.570 Public accounts of governmental entities held by financial institutions—Statements and reports—Contents—Filing.
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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 treasurer of an incorporated city or town whose population exceeds one thousand shall file with the commission:(1) A sta…
RCW 42.17A.575 Public service announcements.
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No state elected official or municipal officer may speak or appear in a public service announcement that is broadcast, shown, or distributed in any form whatsoever during the period beginning January 1st and continuing through the general election if that official or officer is a…
RCW 42.17A.600 Registration of lobbyists.
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(1) Before lobbying, or within thirty days after being employed as a lobbyist, whichever occurs first, unless exempt under RCW 42.17A.610, a lobbyist shall register by filing with the commission a lobbyist registration statement, in such detail as the commission shall prescribe, …
RCW 42.17A.603 Code of conduct—Verification—Penalty.
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(1) A lobbyist who is registered under RCW 42.17A.600 before December 31, 2019, is required to update the lobbyist's registration materials to include the attestation required by RCW 42.17A.600(1)(j) by December 31, 2019.(2) The commission shall revoke the registration of any lob…
RCW 42.17A.605 Photograph and information—Publication.
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Each lobbyist shall at the time the lobbyist registers submit electronically to the commission a recent photograph of the lobbyist of a size and format as determined by rule of the commission, together with the name of the lobbyist's employer, the length of the lobbyist's employm…
RCW 42.17A.610 Exemption from registration and reporting.
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The following persons and activities are exempt from registration and reporting under RCW 42.17A.600, 42.17A.615, and 42.17A.640:(1) Persons who limit their lobbying activities to appearing before public sessions of committees of the legislature, or public hearings of state agenc…
RCW 42.17A.615 Reporting by lobbyists—Rules.
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(1) Any lobbyist registered under RCW 42.17A.600 and any person who lobbies shall file electronically with the commission monthly reports of the lobbyist's or person's lobbying activities. The reports shall be made in the form and manner prescribed by the commission and must be s…
RCW 42.17A.620 Notification to person named in report.
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(1) When a listing or a report of contributions is made to the commission under RCW 42.17A.615(2)(c), a copy of the listing or report must be given to the candidate, elected official, professional employee of the legislature, or officer or employee of an agency, or a political co…
RCW 42.17A.625 Special reports—Lobbyists—Late contributions or large totals.
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Any lobbyist registered under RCW 42.17A.600, any person who lobbies, and any lobbyist's employer making a contribution or an aggregate of contributions to a single entity that is one thousand dollars or more during a special reporting period, as specified in RCW 42.17A.265, befo…
RCW 42.17A.630 Reports by employers of registered lobbyists, other persons.
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(1) Every employer of a lobbyist registered under this chapter during the preceding calendar year and every person other than an individual who made contributions aggregating to more than *sixteen thousand dollars or independent expenditures aggregating to more than *eight hundre…
RCW 42.17A.635 Legislative activities of state agencies, other units of government, elective officials, employees.
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(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 of full-time and part-time staff positions by assignment, with dollar figures as well as number of positions.(2) Unless authorized…
RCW 42.17A.640 Grass roots lobbying campaigns.
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(1) Any person who has made expenditures, not reported by a registered lobbyist under RCW 42.17A.615 or by a candidate or political committee under RCW 42.17A.225 or 42.17A.235, exceeding *one thousand dollars in the aggregate within any three-month period or exceeding *five hund…
RCW 42.17A.645 Employment of legislators, board or commission members, or state employees—Statement, contents.
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If any person registered or required to be registered as a lobbyist, or any employer of any person registered or required to be registered as a lobbyist, employs a member or an employee of the legislature, a member of a state board or commission, or a full-time state employee, an…
RCW 42.17A.650 Employment of unregistered persons.
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It is a violation of this chapter for any person to employ for pay or any consideration, or pay or agree to pay any consideration to, a person to lobby who is not registered under this chapter except upon the condition that such a person must register as a lobbyist as provided by…
RCW 42.17A.655 Lobbyists' duties, restrictions—Penalties for violations.
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(1) A person required to register as a lobbyist under RCW 42.17A.600 shall substantiate financial reports required to be made under this chapter with accounts, bills, receipts, books, papers, and other necessary documents and records. All such documents must be obtained and prese…
RCW 42.17A.700 Elected officials, executive state officers, candidates, and appointees—Statement of financial affairs.
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(1) After January 1st and before April 15th of each year, every elected official and every executive state officer who served for any portion of the preceding year shall electronically file with the commission a statement of financial affairs for the preceding calendar year or fo…
RCW 42.17A.705 "Executive state officer" defined.
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For the purposes of RCW 42.17A.700, "executive state officer" includes:(1) The chief administrative law judge, the director of agriculture, the director of the department of services for the blind, the secretary of children, youth, and families, the director of the state system o…
RCW 42.17A.710 Statement of financial affairs—Contents.
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(1) The statement of financial affairs required by RCW 42.17A.700 shall disclose the following information for the reporting individual and each member of the reporting individual's immediate family:(a) Occupation, name of employer, and business address;(b) Each bank account, sav…
RCW 42.17A.715 Concealing identity of source of payment prohibited—Exception.
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No payment shall be made to any person required to report under RCW 42.17A.700 and no payment shall be accepted by any such person, directly or indirectly, in a fictitious name, anonymously, or by one person through an agent, relative, or other person in such a manner as to conce…
RCW 42.17A.750 Civil remedies and sanctions—Referral for criminal prosecution.
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(1) In addition to the penalties in subsection (2) of this section, and any other remedies provided by law, 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:(a) If the court finds that the vi…
RCW 42.17A.755 Violations—Determination by commission—Penalties—Procedure.
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(1) The commission may initiate or respond to a complaint, request a technical correction, or otherwise resolve matters of compliance with this chapter, in accordance with this section. If a complaint is filed with or initiated by the commission, the commission must:(a) Dismiss t…
RCW 42.17A.760 Procedure upon petition for enforcement of order of commission—Court's order of enforcement.
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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 issued pursuant to this chapter:(1) A copy of the petition shall be served by certified mail directed to the respondent at hi…
RCW 42.17A.765 Enforcement—Attorney general.
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(1)(a) The attorney general may bring civil actions in the name of the state for any appropriate civil remedy, including but not limited to the special remedies provided in RCW 42.17A.750 upon:(i) Referral by the commission pursuant to RCW 42.17A.755(4);(ii) Receipt of a notice p…
RCW 42.17A.770 Limitation on actions.
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Except as provided in RCW 42.17A.775(4), any action brought under the provisions of this chapter must be commenced within five years after the date when the violation occurred.[ 2018 c 304 s 15; 2011 c 60 s 26; 2007 c 455 s 2; 1982 c 147 s 18; 1973 c 1 s 41 (Initiative Measure No…
RCW 42.17A.775 Citizen's action.
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(1) A person who has reason to believe that a provision of this chapter is being or has been violated may bring a citizen's action in the name of the state, in accordance with the procedures of this section.(2) A citizen's action may be brought and prosecuted only if the person f…
RCW 42.17A.780 Damages, costs, and attorneys' fees—Joint and several liability.
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In any action brought under this chapter, the court may award to the commission all reasonable costs of investigation and trial, including reasonable attorneys' fees to be fixed by the court. If the violation is found to have been intentional, the amount of the judgment, which sh…
RCW 42.17A.785 Public disclosure transparency account.
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The public disclosure transparency account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from penalties collected pursuant to enforcement actions or settlements under this chapter, including any fees or costs, must be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spen…
RCW 42.17A.900 Effective date—1973 c 1.
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The effective date of this act shall be January 1, 1973.[ 1973 c 1 s 49 (Initiative Measure No. 276, approved November 7, 1972). Formerly RCW 42.17.900.]
RCW 42.17A.904 Construction—1973 c 1.
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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 the provisions of this act and any other act, the provisions of this act shall govern.[ 1973 c 1 s 47 (Initiative Measure No. 276, approv…