1996 Executive Ethics Board Advisory Opinions 2004 v 2003 v 2002 v 2001 v 2000 v 1999 v 1998 v   1997 v   1996 v Opinions by Subject and Statute Advisory Opinion  Subject Issue RCW and/or WAC 96-01 Gifts  Agency  Section 4 employee  Payments for educational programs Does a regulatory agency violate limitations in RCW 42.52.140-.150 if it receives a gift from a person it regulates, to be used to offset the cost of training agency officers and employees? RCW 42.52.140  RCW 42.52.150 96-02  Gifts  Agency  Section 4 employee  Unsolicited refreshments Does a state officer or employee violate the limitations in RCW 42.52.140-.150 if he/she accepts unsolicited token refreshment items of nominal value which are offered as a gesture of common courtesy from a regulated business while performing official activities at their place of business? RCW 42.52.140  RCW 42.52.150 96-03  State Employees  De minimis use of state resources Is the de minimis use of staff time and resources to support recreational activities as part of the agency wellness program a violation of RCW 42.52.160? RCW 42.52.160    WAC 292-110-010 96-04  State Employees  De minimis use of state resources Does a state officer or employee violate RCW 42.52.160 if he/she receives and makes telephone calls during office hours about the vanpool in which he/she participates? RCW 42.52.160    WAC 292-110-010 96-05  Gifts  Agency  Section 4 employee  Limitations on gifts Does a state agency that only performs ministerial acts fall within the definition of regulatory agency in RCW 42.52.010(13)? RCW 45.52.010  RCW 42.52.150 96-06  Gifts  Agency  Section 4 employee  Hosted reception  Acceptance of food & beverage Can officers and employees of a state regulatory agency accept food and beverage from persons when they do not participate in regulatory or contractual matters with those persons? RCW 42.52.150 96-07  Outside employment Can a state officer or employee with specialized knowledge accept employment as an expert witness? RCW 42.52.120  96-08  Definition of state officer and state employee Do state officers and employees ever lose their identity or does their status as state officers and employees apply only during normal working hours or when they are performing their state duties at times not considered normal working hours? RCW 45.52.010 96-09  Boards and Commissions  Disclosure requirements  Voting abstention requirements Can a state board whose members are required by statute to be appointed from identified groups adopt rules that require members to disclose their interests and abstain from voting on certain matters as a way of addressing ethical prohibitions in the law? RCW 42.52 96-09A   Supplemental Model Rules were approved and may be adapted to a board or commissions particular need.   96-10  Elected Officials  Facilities of an agency  Normal and regular conduct  Employee mailing list Is it a violation of RCW 42.52.180(1) for a statewide elected official, who is running for re-election, to use the agency's list of employee home addresses to send agency employees a letter, paid for with campaign funds, explaining the elected official's policies in response to a letter to agency employees from another candidate for the same office? RCW 42.52.180 96-11  De minimis use of state resources  Charity May state officers or employees use state resources to coordinate statewide volunteer construction projects? RCW 42.52.160 96-12  Gifts  Food & beverages  Community or civic event  Hosted reception  Inaugural ball May state elected officials, state officers and employees accept food and beverage at an inaugural ball and inaugural dinner sponsored by a community or civic organization? RCW 42.52.150