Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 42.17A - Campaign Disclosure and Contribution.
42.17A.655 - Lobbyists' duties, restrictions—Penalties for violations.

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

(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 preserved for a period of at least five years from the date of filing the statement containing such items and shall be made available for inspection by the commission at any time. If the terms of the lobbyist's employment contract require that these records be turned over to the lobbyist's employer, responsibility for the preservation and inspection of these records under this subsection shall be with such employer.
(2) A person required to register as a lobbyist under RCW 42.17A.600 shall not:
(a) Engage in any lobbying activity before registering as a lobbyist;
(b) Knowingly deceive or attempt to deceive a legislator regarding the facts pertaining to any pending or proposed legislation;
(c) Cause or influence the introduction of a bill or amendment to that bill for the purpose of later being employed to secure its defeat;
(d) Knowingly represent an interest adverse to the lobbyist's employer without full disclosure of the adverse interest to the employer and obtaining the employer's written consent;
(e) Exercise any undue influence, extortion, or unlawful retaliation upon any legislator due to the legislator's position or vote on any pending or proposed legislation;
(f) Enter into any agreement, arrangement, or understanding in which any portion of the lobbyist's compensation is or will be contingent upon the lobbyist's success in influencing legislation.
(3) A violation by a lobbyist of this section shall be cause for revocation of the lobbyist's registration, and may subject the lobbyist and the lobbyist's employer, if the employer aids, abets, ratifies, or confirms the violation, to other civil liabilities as provided by this chapter.

[ 2019 c 428 § 34; 2010 c 204 § 812; 1987 c 201 § 2; 1982 c 147 § 14; 1973 c 1 § 23 (Initiative Measure No. 276, approved November 7, 1972). Formerly RCW 42.17.230.]
NOTES:

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

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.