East Valley 4 Education Levy Committee: Alleged Violations of RCW 42.17A.235 & .240 for failure to timely accurately disclose contributions & expenditures on reports (EY24, FEB24)

Case

#148216

Respondent

East Valley 4 Education Levy Committee - 2024

Complainant

Conner Edwards

Description

PDC staff reviewed the allegation(s); the applicable statutes, rules, and reporting requirements; the response(s) provided by the Respondent; the applicable PDC reports filed by the Respondent; the Respondent’s data in the PDC contribution and expenditure database; and other relevant information, to decide whether the record supports a finding of one or more violations.

Based on staff’s review, we found the following:

• East Valley 4 Education Levy Committee filed a Committee Registration (C-1pc) on January 19, 2024, for the Full Reporting option.  Dawn Bushyeager is the Treasurer and Jody Garcia is the Co-Treasurer for the committee.
• Per RCW 42.17A.235 and .240, under the Full Reporting option, a committee is required to disclose contribution and expenditure information by submitting Receipts and Expenditure Summary (C-4) reports and Cash Receipts, Monetary Contributions (C-3) reports to the PDC.  The Committee’s due dates for the C-3 and C-4 reports are determined by its activity and participation in the election cycle.
• The 21-day pre-election C-4 was due on January 23, 2024.  The committee filed a C-4 for the period 01/04/23 – 01/22/24, on January 23, 2024, and amended several times with the final amendment on February 23, 2024, with substantive changes. Because the amendments included substantive changes, the report is considered filed late.
• The 7-day pre-election C-4 was due on February 06, 2024. The committee filed a C-4 for the period 01/23/24 – 02/05/24, on February 05, 2024, and amended numerous times with the final amendment on, March 20, 2024, with substantive changes. Because the amendments included substantive changes, the report is considered filed late.
• The post-election C-4, due on March 11, 2024, was filed timely.
• The Respondent does not have other similar warnings or violations of PDC requirements. 

Based on our case review staff has determined that, in this instance, failure to timely and accurately file Summary Full Campaign Contribution and Expenditure reports (C-4 reports), showing contributions and expenditures undertaken by the February 2024 Special Election committee, does not amount to a finding of a violation that calls for further investigation.

Pursuant to WAC 390-37-060(1)(d), however, East Valley 4 Education Levy Committee will receive a formal written warning concerning RCW 42.17A.235 and .240 for failure to timely and accurately file Summary Full Campaign Contribution and Expenditure reports (C-4 reports), showing contributions and expenditures undertaken by the February 2024 Special Election committee.  Staff expects the committee, moving forward, to file accurate and timely reports of contributions and expenditures in the ORCA system.  If violations of PDC laws or rules occur in the future, the Commission will consider this formal written warning in deciding on further Commission action.

Based on this information, the PDC finds that no further action necessary and has dismissed this matter per RCW 42.17A.755(1).

Disposition

Case Closed with Written Warning

Date Opened

February 05, 2024

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.235, RCW 42.17A.240

Documents

• 148216 East Valley 4 Education Levy Committee Complaint.pdf
• 148216 East Valley 4 Education Levy Committee Response.pdf.pdf
• 148216 East Valley 4 Education Levy Committee Complaint Return Letter (combined).pdf