OLYMPIA — Candidates and in-state political committees could no longer file campaign spending reports by mail, under a bill introduced Friday.
The legislation would require them to electronically report all contributions and expenditures with the Public Disclosure Commission starting this year.
Also under House Bill 2563, elected officials, executive state appointees, and candidates would have to file their personal financial affairs statements in this manner starting June 30. Registered lobbyists would have to report their income and expenses electronically starting Jan. 1, 2017.
The Public Disclosure Commission requested the legislation. Rep. Sam Hunt, D-Olympia, is the prime sponsor.
“One of the most important things the PDC can do is to enhance disclosure by increasing what information is easily searchable in the Commission’s database and shortening the time before reported information is available to the public. To better meet that goal, we would like to have all reports electronically filed,” said Commissioner Anne Levinson, a retired King County judge.
Today, only campaigns that spend in excess of $5,000 must file electronically. The legislation would apply the requirement to all campaigns.
Similarly, only lobbyists for state agencies must report electronically. This bill would apply the requirement to all lobbyists.
“We’re trying to provide timelier and more robust public access to the information,” PDC spokeswoman Lori Anderson said.
When information is mailed to the commission office in Olympia, staff must scan and upload the documents online. Not all the material in them may get entered into the various databases.
With electronic filing, the material is uploaded and put into the agency’s searchable database without delay, Anderson said.
“It is better for the public and it is better for us,” she said.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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