Inquiry of the Week (04/24/00)

Question:

Does a city or county need to report to the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) the expenditure of public funds for lobbying by its elected officials that consists of meeting with a state legislator over dinner?

Answer:

No. This is considered "non-reportable" lobbying. RCW 42.17.190(5)(d)(v)(B) exempts from lobbying reporting requirements "in-person lobbying by any elected official of such agency on behalf of such agency or in connection with the powers, duties, or compensation of such official." However, no city or county funds may be used to buy the legislator's dinner or drinks or anything else for the legislator (RCW 42.17.190(3)). Also, no more than $15 of nonpublic funds may be used for such purposes (RCW 42.17.190(5)(v)(B)) without reporting that expenditure to the PDC, using the agency's L-5 report.