- Introduced -

SB 729 - SB 16 (1997), requires continuing committees to file electronically, beginning with the January 1, 1998 filing period. Currently, no software is available to continuing committees for such electronic filing. This act would make electronic filing optional for continuing committees, and which would make invalid any action taken by the Ethics Commission regarding the failure of a continuing committee to file electronically. If the Ethics Commission has taken action, the Commission must reimburse for any costs, including attorney fees. This portion of the bill has an emergency clause.

This act also provides that the deadline for filing any report, statement or other document with the Ethics Commission (or "appropriate officer") is the next working day if the normal deadline would fall on a holiday or weekend. Lobbyists and persons filing campaign finance reports currently must file early to avoid a late filing when the deadline falls on a holiday or weekend. This deadline provision would not apply to filings required less than seven days before the election.

MARGARET J. TOALSON