17th Legislative District Democrats (3): Alleged violations of Chapter 42.17A RCW for failure to timely and accurately deposit and report contributions and committee officers (Dec 18)

Case

#43895

Respondent

17th Legislative District Democrats

Complainant

Cheryl Aichele

Description

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has completed its review of the complaint filed on December 7, 2018. Your complaint alleged that the 17th Legislative District Democrats, a bona fide legislative district party committee, may have violated: (1) RCW 42.17A.205 by failing to accurately and completely disclose committee officers on the Committee Registration (C-1pc report); (2) RCW 42.17A.425 for allowing persons not identified as committee officers on the C-1pc to authorize expenditures; (3) RCW 42.17A.220 for failure to timely deposit contributions within five business days of receipt; (4) RCW 42.17A.270 for failure to timely and accurately report earmarked contributions and WAC 390-17-015 for improper transfer of earmarked contributions; and (5) RCW 42.17A.460 for failure to report earmarked contributions as made from both the original contributor and the party as a conduit of earmarked contributions.

The complaint also alleged violations RCW 42.17A.490 regarding the limitations on use of contributions for a different office which is not applicable to bona fide party committees.

PDC staff reviewed the allegations; the applicable statutes, rules, and reporting requirements; the response(s) provided by the 17th Legislative District Democrats and Committee Chair, Harrison Toepfer; the applicable PDC reports filed by Respondent; and queried the Respondent’s data in the PDC contribution and expenditure database, to determine whether the record supports a finding of one or more violations.

Based on these findings staff has determined that, in this instance, failure to timely and accurately file a small number of C-3 and C-4 reports that included minor data entry errors, does not amount to an actual violation warranting further investigation.

PDC staff reminded the 17th LD about the importance of the timely disclosure of all contribution and expenditure activities, including the received date of contributions, and the timely filing of the C-1pc disclosing material changes, in future calendar years in accordance with the statutes and rules.

Disposition

Case Closed with Reminder

Date Opened

December 12, 2018

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.205, RCW 42.17A.220, RCW 42.17A.270, RCW 42.17A.425, RCW 42.17A.460, WAC 390-17-015