Chapter 42.17 RCW 

Disclosure — campaign finances — lobbying

RCW Sections 

42.17.010 Declaration of policy. 

42.17.020 Definitions. 

CAMPAIGN FINANCING 

42.17.030 Applicability -- Exceptions. 

42.17.035 Conservation district exception. 

42.17.040 Statement of organization by political committees. 

42.17.050 Treasurer -- Depositories. 

42.17.060 Deposit of contributions -- Investment -- Unidentified contributions -- Cash 

contributions. 

42.17.065 Filing and reporting by continuing political committee. 

42.17.067 Fund-raising activities -- Alternative reporting method. 

42.17.070 Expenditures -- Authorization of and restrictions on. 

42.17.080 Reporting of contributions and expenditures -- Public inspection of 

accounts. 

42.17.090 Contents of report. 

42.17.093 Out-of-state political committees -- Reports. 

42.17.095 Disposal of surplus funds. 

42.17.100 Special reports -- Independent expenditures. 

42.17.103 Special reports -- Political advertising. 

42.17.105 Special reports -- Late contributions or large totals -- Certain late 

contributions prohibited. 

42.17.110 Commercial advertisers -- Public inspection of documents -- Copies to 

commission. 

42.17.120 Identification of contributions and communications. 

42.17.125 Personal use of contributions -- When permitted. 

42.17.128 Use of public funds for political purposes. 

42.17.130 Use of public office or agency facilities in campaigns -- Prohibition -- 

Exceptions. 

42.17.131 Exemption from RCW 42.17.130. 

42.17.135 Earmarked contributions. 

LOBBYIST REPORTING 
42.17.150 Registration of lobbyists. 

42.17.155 Photograph and information -- Booklet -- Publication. 

42.17.160 Exemption from registration. 

42.17.170 Reporting by lobbyists. 

42.17.172 Notification to person named in report. 

42.17.175 Special reports -- Lobbyists -- Late contributions or large totals. 

42.17.180 Reports by employers of registered lobbyists, other persons. 

42.17.190 Legislative activities of state agencies, other units of government, elective 

officials, employees. 

42.17.200 Grass roots lobbying campaigns. 

42.17.210 Employment of legislators, board or commission members, or state 

employees -- Statement, contents and filing. 

42.17.220 Employment of unregistered persons. 

42.17.230 Lobbyists' duties, restrictions. 

REPORTING OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS' FINANCIAL AFFAIRS 

42.17.240 Elected and appointed officials, candidates, and appointees -- Reports of 

financial affairs and gifts. 

42.17.2401 "Executive state officer" defined. 

42.17.241 Contents of report. 

42.17.242 Concealing identity of source of payment prohibited -- Exception. 

REPORTING BY PUBLIC TREASURERS 

42.17.245 Public accounts of governmental entities held by financial institutions -- 

Statements and reports -- Contents -- Filing. 

ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT 

42.17.350 Public disclosure commission -- Established -- Membership -- Prohibited 

activities -- Compensation, travel expenses. 

42.17.360 Commission -- Duties. 

42.17.362 Toll-free telephone number. 

42.17.365 Audits and investigations. 

42.17.367 Web site for commission documents. 

42.17.369 Electronic filing -- Availability. 

42.17.3691 Electronic filing -- When required. 

42.17.370 Commission -- Additional powers. 

42.17.380 Duties of attorney general. 
42.17.390 Civil remedies and sanctions. 

42.17.395 Violations -- Determination by commission -- Procedure. 

42.17.397 Procedure upon petition for enforcement of order of commission -- Court's 

order of enforcement. 

42.17.400 Enforcement. 

42.17.405 Suspension, reapplication of reporting requirements in small political 

subdivisions. 

42.17.410 Limitation on actions. 

42.17.420 Date of mailing deemed date of receipt -- Exceptions -- Electronic filings. 

42.17.430 Certification of reports. 

42.17.440 Statements and reports public records. 

42.17.450 Duty to preserve statements and reports. 

42.17.460 Access to reports -- Legislative intent. 

42.17.461 Access goals. 

42.17.463 Access performance measures. 

42.17.465 Information technology plan -- Contents. 

42.17.467 Information technology plan -- Consultation. 

42.17.469 Information technology plan -- Submission. 

42.17.471 Access performance reports. 

POLITICAL ADVERTISING AND 

ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATIONS 

42.17.510 Identification of sponsor -- Exemptions. 

42.17.520 Picture of candidate. 

42.17.530 Political advertising or electioneering communication -- Libel or defamation 

per se. 

42.17.540 Responsibility for compliance. 

REPORTING OF ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATIONS 

42.17.561 Findings. 

42.17.562 Intent. 

42.17.565 Report -- Information required -- Time -- Method -- By whom -- Penalty. 

42.17.570 When a contribution. 

42.17.575 Recordkeeping. 

CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITATIONS 
42.17.610 Findings. 

42.17.620 Intent. 

42.17.640 Limits specified -- Exemptions. 

42.17.645 Candidates for judicial office -- Special elections to fill vacancies -- 

Contribution limits -- Adjustments. 

42.17.647 Rules. 

42.17.650 Attribution and aggregation of family contributions. 

42.17.660 Attribution of contributions by controlled entities. 

42.17.670 Attribution of contributions generally -- "Earmarking." 

42.17.680 Limitations on employers or labor organizations. 

42.17.690 Changing monetary limits. 

42.17.700 Contributions. 

42.17.710 Time limit for state official to solicit or accept contributions. 

42.17.720 Restriction on loans. 

42.17.730 Contributions on behalf of another. 

42.17.740 Certain contributions required to be by written instrument. 

42.17.750 Solicitation of contributions by public officials or employees. 

42.17.760 Agency shop fees as contributions. 

42.17.770 Solicitation of endorsement fees. 

42.17.780 Reimbursement for contributions. 

42.17.790 Prohibition on use of contributions for a different office. 

TECHNICAL PROVISIONS 

42.17.900 Effective date -- 1973 c 1. 

42.17.910 Severability -- 1973 c 1. 

42.17.911 Severability -- 1975 1st ex.s. c 294. 

42.17.912 Severability -- 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 112. 

42.17.920 Construction -- 1973 c 1. 

42.17.930 Chapter, section headings not part of law. 

42.17.940 Repealer -- 1973 c 1. 

42.17.945 Construction -- 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 112. 

42.17.950 Captions. 

42.17.955 Short title -- 1993 c 2. 

42.17.960 Effective date -- 1995 c 397. 
42.17.961 Captions -- 1995 c 397. 

42.17.962 Severability -- 1995 c 397. 

42.17.963 Part headings not law -- 2005 c 445. 

42.17.964 Severability -- 2005 c 445. 

42.17.965 Effective dates -- 2005 c 445. 

42.17.966 Severability -- 2006 c 348. 

Notes: 

Basic health plan records: RCW 70.47.150. 

Boundary changes, factual information on: RCW 35.21.890. 

Family and children's ombudsman: RCW 43.06A.050. 

Heating oil pollution liability protection act, certain information exempt from chapter 

42.17 RCW: RCW 70.149.090. 

Private and confidential information -- Requests for disclosure: RCW 50.13.015. 

Secretary of state, materials specifically authorized to be printed and distributed by: 

RCW 43.07.140.