Public Disclosure Commission - Current Law

RCW 42.17A

The Public Disclosure Commission — established by initiative of the people in 1972 — administers and enforces the laws pertaining to the disclosure of political campaign finances, lobbying, and the financial affairs of elected officials and candidates for public office. The commission also oversees contribution limits, allowable uses of campaign funds and the prohibition against use of public resources to assist campaigns. It has regulated more than $1 billion in campaign contributions and more than $600 million in state lobbying over the last decade.

Agency Mission

The Public Disclosure Commission promotes confidence in the political process by providing timely and meaningful access to information about the financing of political campaigns, lobbying expenditures and financial affairs of public officials and candidates and by ensuring equitable enforcement of Washington’s disclosure and campaign finance laws.
Request 13,472,000
Net change from current biennium 802,000 Increase
Percent change from current biennium 6.3% Increase

Operating Budget: Summary

Appropriated Funds

2021-23 Appropriations Appropriated Funds Expenditures
Amount Estimated Balance   2019-21 Actual 2021-23 Estimated 2023-25 Proposed
Industrial Insurance Premium Refund - Nonappropriated 0.02
Info Tech Invest Rev Acct - Nonappropriated 225,572
11,736,000 General Fund - State 10,299,845 11,736,000 12,861,000
934,000 Public Disclosure Transparency Acct - State 436,274 934,000 611,000
Pension Funding Stabilization Acct - State 260,000
12,670,000 Total Appropriated Funds 11,221,692 12,670,000 13,472,000

Non-Appropriated Funds

Operating Budget: Program Summary

Program Title Actual Estimated Proposed
Actual Estimated Estimated Proposed Proposed
Annual Total 5,793,284 5,345,435 1,811,911 6,815,000 6,657,000

Operating Budget: Change from Preceding Biennium

Actual Estimated Proposed
Amount Percent Amount Percent Amount Percent
3,522,040 45.7% (4,064,346) (36.2%) 6,314,654 88.2%

Employment Summary

  Actual Estimated Proposed
  2020-21 Actual 2021-22 Estimated 2022-23 Estimated 2023-24 Proposed 2024-25 Proposed
FTE Staff Years 30.0 30.2 28.1 36.6 37.6