(1) For purposes of RCW
42.17A.320 (2), (4) and (5), "top five contributors" means the five persons, as defined in RCW
42.17A.005, giving the largest aggregate contributions exceeding seven hundred dollars during the twelve-month period preceding the date on which the advertisement is published or otherwise presented to the public. If more than five contributors give an amount equal to the largest aggregate contribution exceeding seven hundred dollars and the funds are received during the relevant twelve-month period, the political committee sponsoring the advertisement shall select five of these contributors to identify as the top five contributors.
(2) For independent expenditure advertisements or electioneering communications, the "top five contributors" identification requirement of RCW
42.17A.320 applies to all political committees that make independent expenditures, including continuing political committees and out-of-state political committees subject to chapter
42.17A RCW other than a bona fide political party committee.
(3) If a political committee keeps records necessary to track contributions according to the use intended by contributors, and the committee subsequently makes independent expenditures for advertisements supporting or opposing a candidate or slate of candidates or an electioneering communication identifying a specific candidate or slate of candidates, that committee may identify the top five contributors giving for that purpose, as opposed to identifying the overall top five contributors to the committee as is otherwise required by RCW
42.17A.320 and this section.
However, a contributor's contributions earmarked for independent expenditures supporting or opposing a specific candidate or slate of candidates or electioneering communications identifying a specific candidate or slate of candidates shall not be used with respect to a different candidate or slate of candidates without the contributor being identified as one of the top five contributors for the actual expenditure if that contributor is one of the top five contributors for that expenditure.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17A.110. 12-03-002, § 390-18-025, filed 1/4/12, effective 2/4/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.370. 07-08-044, § 390-18-025, filed 3/28/07, effective 4/28/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.370 and 42.17.562. 06-11-132, § 390-18-025, filed 5/23/06, effective 6/23/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.370(1). 02-12-007, § 390-18-025, filed 5/23/02, effective 6/23/02.]