Skip to Main content

Agency: 082 - Public Disclosure Commission

Last Updated: 10/08/2025

A001 - Agency Administration

Agency Administration provides administrative and management support to the Public Disclosure Commission.

Account FY 2026 FY 2027 Biennium Total
FTE 3 3 3
001 - General Fund
State 360,000 469,000 829,000
FY 2026 FY 2027 Biennium Total
FTES 3 3 3
GFS 360,000 469,000 829,000
Other
Totals 360,000 469,000 829,000

Expected Results

Provides critical support to public access and enforcement of disclosure law activities and, therefore, makes a vital contribution to the success of the Public Disclosure Commission's (PDC) core mission.

A002 - Enforcement of Public Disclosure Laws

The Public Disclosure Commission monitors whether persons subject to public disclosure laws file timely reports and comply with other provisions of the law. The agency reviews approximately 70 complaints from the public annually, the vast majority relating to provisions of the campaign financing statutes. The commission initiates investigations, produces reports, and enforces the public disclosure laws, including hearing enforcement cases and imposing penalties on violators.

Account FY 2026 FY 2027 Biennium Total
FTE 10.5 10.5 10.5
001 - General Fund
State 2,151,000 2,242,000 4,393,000
FY 2026 FY 2027 Biennium Total
FTES 10.5 10.5 10.5
GFS 2,151,000 2,242,000 4,393,000
Other
Totals 2,151,000 2,242,000 4,393,000
View Additional Data

Expected Results

PDC has two enforcement related performance measures: the percentage of candidates, lobbyists, lobbyist employers, political committees, and public officials who meet statutory filing deadlines and the percentage of routine investigations completed within 90 days. The agency is working to decrease the amount of time it takes to bring complaints to resolution by using a case tracking system that closely monitors progress on each investigation. Enforcement staff have many duties, including assisting filers to comply with the law, which accounts for approximately 40 percent of their work time. During Fiscal Year 2008, 76 percent of routine enforcement cases were closed within 90 days.

A003 - Provide Public Access to Certain Campaign, Lobbying and Financial Information

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) provides full and timely public access to political finance data by maintaining a secure, comprehensive website, and developing and maintaining electronic filing alternatives for campaigns, lobbyists, lobbyist employers, and personal financial affairs filers. The agency assists filers in fulfilling statutory reporting requirements by providing training, instructional manuals, help screens, and telephone and e-mail assistance. Commission staff enters, reviews, and maintains data required of campaigns, lobbyists, lobbyist employers, and others to ensure the uniformity and accuracy of the data.

Account FY 2026 FY 2027 Biennium Total
FTE 23.1 24.1 24.1
001 - General Fund
State 1,990,000 3,140,000 5,130,000
22W - Public Disclosure Transparency Acct
State 2,352,000 856,000 3,208,000
FY 2026 FY 2027 Biennium Total
FTES 23.1 24.1 23.6
GFS 1,990,000 3,140,000 5,130,000
Other 2,352,000 856,000 3,208,000
Totals 4,342,000 3,996,000 8,338,000
View Additional Data

Expected Results

According to RCW 42.17.461, copies of campaign and lobbying disclosure reports, or data from those reports, filed electronically are to be available on the PDC's web site within two business days of receipt by the agency. In fact, data from electronically filed reports are immediately available and images of these reports are accessible within 15 minutes of being sent by the filer. For campaigns and lobbyists filing on paper, copies of the reports or data are to be available within four business days of receipt. Actual performance shows that images of paper reports are Internet-accessible the same day the reports are received, and data from selected campaigns are also entered by PDC staff within an average of two days.