RCW 42.17A.001
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 and expenditures be fully disclosed to the public and that secrecy is to be avoided.
(2) That the people have the right to expect from their elected representatives at all levels of government the utmost of integrity, honesty, and fairness in their dealings.
(3) That the people shall be assured that the private financial dealings of their public officials, and of candidates for those offices, present no conflict of interest between the public trust and private interest.
(4) That our representative form of government is founded on a belief that those entrusted with the offices of government have nothing to fear from full public disclosure of their financial and business holdings, provided those officials deal honestly and fairly with the people.
(5) That public confidence in government at all levels is essential and must be promoted by all possible means.
(6) That public confidence in government at all levels can best be sustained by assuring the people of the impartiality and honesty of the officials in all public transactions and decisions.
(7) That the concept of attempting to increase financial participation of individual contributors in political campaigns is encouraged by the passage of the Revenue Act of 1971 by the Congress of the United States, and in consequence thereof, it is desirable to have implementing legislation at the state level.
(8) That the concepts of disclosure and limitation of election campaign financing are established by the passage of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 by the Congress of the United States, and in consequence thereof it is desirable to have implementing legislation at the state level.
(9) That small contributions by individual contributors are to be encouraged, and that not requiring the reporting of small contributions may tend to encourage such contributions.
(10) That the public's right to know of the financing of political campaigns and lobbying and the financial affairs of elected officials and candidates far outweighs any right that these matters remain secret and private.
(11) That, mindful of the right of individuals to privacy and of the desirability of the efficient administration of government, full access to information concerning the conduct of government on every level must be assured as a fundamental and necessary precondition to the sound governance of a free society.
The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed to promote complete disclosure of all information respecting the financing of political campaigns and lobbying, and the financial affairs of elected officials and candidates, and full access to public records so as to assure continuing public confidence of fairness of elections and governmental processes, and so as to assure that the public interest will be fully protected. In promoting such complete disclosure, however, this chapter shall be enforced so as to ensure that the information disclosed will not be misused for arbitrary and capricious purposes and to ensure that all persons reporting under this chapter will be protected from harassment and unfounded allegations based on information they have freely disclosed.
[ 2019 c 428 § 2; 1975 1st ex.s. c 294 § 1; 1973 c 1 § 1 (Initiative Measure No. 276, approved November 7, 1972). Formerly RCW 42.17.010.]
NOTES:
Effective date—Finding—Intent—2019 c 428: See notes following RCW 42.17A.160.
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 42 - Public Officers and Agencies
Chapter 42.17A - Campaign Disclosure and Contribution.
42.17A.001 - Declaration of policy.
42.17A.010 - Conservation district exception.
42.17A.020 - Statements and reports public records.
42.17A.055 - Electronic filing—Availability.
42.17A.060 - Access to reports—Legislative intent.
42.17A.065 - Access performance measures.
42.17A.105 - Commission—Duties.
42.17A.110 - Commission—Additional powers.
42.17A.120 - Suspension or modification of reporting requirements.
42.17A.125 - Revising monetary contribution limits, reporting thresholds, and code values.
42.17A.130 - Duties of attorney general.
42.17A.135 - Application of reporting requirements in small political subdivisions.
42.17A.140 - Date of receipt—Exceptions—Electronic filings.
42.17A.145 - Certification of reports.
42.17A.150 - Duty to preserve statements and reports.
42.17A.200 - Application of chapter—Exceptions.
42.17A.205 - Statement of organization by political committees.
42.17A.207 - Statement of organization by incidental committees.
42.17A.220 - Deposit of contributions—Investment—Unidentified contributions.
42.17A.225 - Filing and reporting by continuing political committee.
42.17A.230 - Fund-raising activities—Alternative reporting method.
42.17A.235 - Reporting of contributions and expenditures—Public inspection of accounts.
42.17A.240 - Contents of report.
42.17A.250 - Out-of-state political committees—Reports.
42.17A.255 - Special reports—Independent expenditures.
42.17A.260 - Special reports—Political advertising.
42.17A.270 - Earmarked contributions.
42.17A.300 - Findings—Intent—Rule-making authority.
42.17A.305 - Report—Information required—Time—Method—By whom—Penalty.
42.17A.310 - When a contribution.
42.17A.320 - Identification of sponsor—Exemptions.
42.17A.330 - Picture of candidate.
42.17A.335 - Political advertising or electioneering communication—Libel or defamation per se.
42.17A.340 - Responsibility for compliance.
42.17A.345 - Commercial advertisers—Public inspection of documents—Copies to commission.
42.17A.350 - Top five contributors to political advertisement.
42.17A.405 - Limits specified—Exemptions.
42.17A.417 - Foreign nationals—Contributions, expenditures, and electioneering prohibited.
42.17A.418 - Foreign nationals—Contribution certification.
42.17A.420 - Reportable contributions—Preelection limitations.
42.17A.425 - Expenditures—Authorization of and restrictions on.
42.17A.430 - Disposal of surplus funds.
42.17A.435 - Identification of contributions and communications.
42.17A.440 - Candidates' political committees—Limitations.
42.17A.442 - Contributions by political committees to political committees.
42.17A.445 - Personal use of contributions—When permitted.
42.17A.450 - Attribution and aggregation of family contributions.
42.17A.455 - Attribution of contributions by controlled entities.
42.17A.460 - Attribution of contributions generally—"Earmarking."
42.17A.465 - Restriction on loans.
42.17A.470 - Contributions on behalf of another.
42.17A.475 - Certain contributions required to be by written instrument.
42.17A.480 - Solicitation of endorsement fees.
42.17A.485 - Reimbursement for contributions.
42.17A.490 - Prohibition on use of contributions for a different office.
42.17A.495 - Limitations on employers or labor organizations.
42.17A.500 - Agency shop fees as contributions.
42.17A.550 - Use of public funds for political purposes.
42.17A.555 - Use of public office or agency facilities in campaigns—Prohibition—Exceptions.
42.17A.560 - Time limit for state official to solicit or accept contributions.
42.17A.565 - Solicitation of contributions by public officials or employees.
42.17A.575 - Public service announcements.
42.17A.600 - Registration of lobbyists.
42.17A.603 - Code of conduct—Verification—Penalty.
42.17A.605 - Photograph and information—Publication.
42.17A.610 - Exemption from registration and reporting.
42.17A.615 - Reporting by lobbyists—Rules.
42.17A.620 - Notification to person named in report.
42.17A.625 - Special reports—Lobbyists—Late contributions or large totals.
42.17A.630 - Reports by employers of registered lobbyists, other persons.
42.17A.640 - Grass roots lobbying campaigns.
42.17A.650 - Employment of unregistered persons.
42.17A.655 - Lobbyists' duties, restrictions—Penalties for violations.
42.17A.705 - "Executive state officer" defined.
42.17A.710 - Statement of financial affairs—Contents.
42.17A.715 - Concealing identity of source of payment prohibited—Exception.
42.17A.750 - Civil remedies and sanctions—Referral for criminal prosecution.
42.17A.755 - Violations—Determination by commission—Penalties—Procedure.
42.17A.765 - Enforcement—Attorney general.
42.17A.770 - Limitation on actions.
42.17A.775 - Citizen's action.
42.17A.780 - Damages, costs, and attorneys' fees—Joint and several liability.
42.17A.785 - Public disclosure transparency account.
42.17A.900 - Effective date—1973 c 1.
42.17A.904 - Construction—1973 c 1.
42.17A.905 - Chapter, section headings not part of law.
42.17A.906 - Repealer—1973 c 1.
42.17A.907 - Construction—1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 112.
42.17A.909 - Short title—1993 c 2.
42.17A.910 - Effective date—1995 c 397.
42.17A.911 - Captions—1995 c 397.
42.17A.915 - Effective dates—2005 c 445.
42.17A.917 - Effective date—2010 c 204 §§ 505, 602, and 703.
42.17A.918 - Effective date—2010 c 204.