Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 42.17A - Campaign Disclosure and Contribution.
42.17A.255 - Special reports—Independent expenditures.

RCW 42.17A.255
Special reports—Independent expenditures.

(1) For the purposes of this section the term "independent expenditure" means any expenditure that is made in support of or in opposition to any candidate or ballot proposition and is not otherwise required to be reported pursuant to RCW 42.17A.225, 42.17A.235, and 42.17A.240. "Independent expenditure" does not include: An internal political communication primarily limited to the contributors to a political party organization or political action committee, or the officers, management staff, and stockholders of a corporation or similar enterprise, or the members of a labor organization or other membership organization; or the rendering of personal services of the sort commonly performed by volunteer campaign workers, or incidental expenses personally incurred by volunteer campaign workers not in excess of fifty dollars personally paid for by the worker. "Volunteer services," for the purposes of this section, means services or labor for which the individual is not compensated by any person.
(2) Within five days after the date of making an independent expenditure that by itself or when added to all other such independent expenditures made during the same election campaign by the same person equals one hundred dollars or more, or within five days after the date of making an independent expenditure for which no reasonable estimate of monetary value is practicable, whichever occurs first, the person who made the independent expenditure shall file with the commission an initial report of all independent expenditures made during the campaign prior to and including such date.
(3) At the following intervals each person who is required to file an initial report pursuant to subsection (2) of this section shall file with the commission a further report of the independent expenditures made since the date of the last report:
(a) On the twenty-first day and the seventh day preceding the date on which the election is held; and
(b) On the tenth day of the first month after the election; and
(c) On the tenth day of each month in which no other reports are required to be filed pursuant to this section. However, the further reports required by this subsection (3) shall only be filed if the reporting person has made an independent expenditure since the date of the last previous report filed.
The report filed pursuant to (a) of this subsection (3) shall be the final report, and upon submitting such final report the duties of the reporting person shall cease, and there shall be no obligation to make any further reports.
(4) All reports filed pursuant to this section shall be certified as correct by the reporting person.
(5) Each report required by subsections (2) and (3) of this section shall disclose for the period beginning at the end of the period for the last previous report filed or, in the case of an initial report, beginning at the time of the first independent expenditure, and ending not more than one business day before the date the report is due:
(a) The name, address, and electronic contact information of the person filing the report;
(b) The name and address of each person to whom an independent expenditure was made in the aggregate amount of more than fifty dollars, and the amount, date, and purpose of each such expenditure. If no reasonable estimate of the monetary value of a particular independent expenditure is practicable, it is sufficient to report instead a precise description of services, property, or rights furnished through the expenditure and where appropriate to attach a copy of the item produced or distributed by the expenditure;
(c) The total sum of all independent expenditures made during the campaign to date;
(d) A statement from the person making an independent expenditure that:
(i) The expenditure is not financed in any part by a foreign national; and
(ii) Foreign nationals are not involved in making decisions regarding the expenditure in any way; and
(e) Such other information as shall be required by the commission by rule in conformance with the policies and purposes of this chapter.

[ 2020 c 152 § 5; 2019 c 428 § 22; 2011 c 60 § 24; 2010 c 205 § 7; 1995 c 397 § 28; 1989 c 280 § 10; 1985 c 367 § 6; 1982 c 147 § 9; 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 112 § 4; 1973 c 1 § 10 (Initiative Measure No. 276, approved November 7, 1972). Formerly RCW 42.17.100.]
NOTES:

Findings—2020 c 152: See note following RCW 42.17A.417.


Effective date—Finding—Intent—2019 c 428: See notes following RCW 42.17A.160.


Effective date—1989 c 280: See note following RCW 42.17A.005.

Structure Revised Code of Washington

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.005 - Definitions.

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.100 - Public disclosure commission—Established—Commissioners—Prohibited activities—Compensation, travel expenses.

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.160 - Subpoenas.

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.210 - Treasurer.

42.17A.215 - Depositories.

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.265 - Special reports—Late contributions or large totals—Certain late contributions prohibited.

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.315 - Recordkeeping.

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.400 - Findings—Intent.

42.17A.405 - Limits specified—Exemptions.

42.17A.410 - Candidates for judicial office—Special elections to fill vacancies—Contribution limits—Adjustments.

42.17A.415 - Contributions.

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.570 - Public accounts of governmental entities held by financial institutions—Statements and reports—Contents—Filing.

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.635 - Legislative activities of state agencies, other units of government, elective officials, employees.

42.17A.640 - Grass roots lobbying campaigns.

42.17A.645 - Employment of legislators, board or commission members, or state employees—Statement, contents.

42.17A.650 - Employment of unregistered persons.

42.17A.655 - Lobbyists' duties, restrictions—Penalties for violations.

42.17A.700 - Elected officials, executive state officers, candidates, and appointees—Statement of financial affairs.

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.760 - Procedure upon petition for enforcement of order of commission—Court's order of enforcement.

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.908 - Captions.

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.

42.17A.919 - Effective date—2011 c 60.

42.17A.920 - Local regulations not preempted—2020 c 152.