NARAL Pro-Choice Washington PAC: Alleged violations of RCW 42.17A.235 & .240 for failure to timely & accurately report contributions made in election year 2019. (Oct '19)

Case

#59665

Respondent

NARAL Pro-Choice Washington PAC

Complainant

Glen Morgan

Description

The PDC received a complaint alleging that NARAL Pro-Choice Washington (the “Respondent”) may have violated RCW 42.17A.235 & .240 by failing to timely & accurately disclose expenditures (e.g. contributions to candidates) made by the campaign during election year 2019 on C-4 reports. 

PDC staff reviewed the allegations; the applicable statutes, rules and reporting requirements; the response provided by the Respondent; and the Respondent’s reporting history to determine whether they support a finding of one or more violations. Staff’s review found the following:

During calendar year 2019, the Respondent substantially complied with C-3 reporting requirements but failed to timely file nine C-4 reports that were received between 2-107 days late, five of which were due immediately preceding or following the Primary and General Elections. The Respondent also amended seven C-4 reports and two C-3 reports. The late filed reports disclosed that the Respondent contributed a total of $1,600 to seven 2019 local candidates and made two $1,000 monetary contributions to the 2020 campaigns of Jay Inslee and Bob Ferguson respectively. 

The Respondent indicated the late reports were the result of the early 2019 resignation of its office manager and a lack of “trained staff to handle reporting.” The Respondent’s new office manager filed the required C-4 reports with the PDC, bringing it into compliance five days before the General Election and four days before being notified that a complaint had been filed with the PDC. 

Based on these findings, staff determined that, in this instance, the Respondent’s failure to timely & accurately disclose expenditures & contributions does not amount to a violation that warrants further investigation. However, the PDC issued the Respondent a formal written Warning concerning its failure to timely & accurately disclose expenditures & contributions. PDC staff expect the Respondent to timely & accurately file all required reports in the future. The Commission will consider the formal written Warning in deciding on further Commission action if there are future violations of PDC laws or rules. The PDC has dismissed this matter in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1). 

Disposition

Case Closed with Written Warning

Date Opened

November 04, 2019

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.235, RCW 42.17A.240

Documents

• 59665 NARAL Pro-Choice WA PAC Response.pdf
• 59665 NARAL Pro-Choice WA PAC Complaint.pdf
• 59665 NARAL Pro-Choice WA PAC Warning Letter.pdf