Privacy Policy
Introduction
Thank you for visiting the Executive Ethics Board web site and reviewing our Internet Privacy Notice. This statement addresses collection, use and security of and access to information that may be obtained through use of our web site. This notice covers the following topics:
- Information Collected and How it is Used
- Personal Information and Choice
- Public Access to Information
- Cookies [and applets] Security Disclaimer Contact Information
Information Collected and How it is Used
Information collected if you only browse this site
If you do nothing during your visit to the web site but browse, read pages, or download information, we collect or store no information from you or about you.
We do have access to site usage statistics provided by our Internet Service Provider (the Washington State Department of Information Services) that we use to measure which site pages are visited the most often and when. The Executive Ethics Board analyzes these web site statistics to determine how our web site is being used, so that we may continually improve the site’s usefulness to the public. The Executive Ethics Board does not collect or store any information that can be used to identify or profile an individual, such as your Internet Protocol (IP) address, cookies, referring sites, etc.
What we collect if you volunteer information
If you send us e-mail:
If you send us an e-mail, we will collect the e-mail address and the contents of the e-mail. The information collected is not limited to text characters and may include any audio, video, and graphic information formats you send us. The information is retained in accordance with Chapter 40.14 RCW, Preservation and Destruction of Public Records.
We use your e-mail to respond appropriately. This may be to respond to you, to address issues you may identify, to further improve our web site, or to forward the e-mail to another agency for appropriate action.
If you fill out one of our complaint forms on this site:
This site contains forms for filing Ethics complaints with our office. Information provided on these forms is used to process your complaint, notify the agency about whom the complaint is issued, and may be sent to other government agencies. Any information that you give to us will not be sold, rented, or leased to third parties and will only be used to respond to you or investigate your complaint. We strongly urge you to not submit sensitive personal information on these forms online. If you feel that sensitive information is required to process your complaint, we urge you to print out our complaint form and submit it to us by mail.
All of the information collected at this site becomes a public record that may be subject to inspection and copying by members of the public, unless an exemption or other protection in the law exists. (Please see “Public Access to Information” section below).
Personal Information and Choice
You may choose whether to provide personal information on-line
“Personal information” is information about a natural person that is readily identifiable to that specific individual. Personal information includes such things as an individual's name, address, and phone number. A domain name or Internet Protocol address is not considered personal information.
We collect no personal information about you unless you voluntarily participate in an activity that asks for information (i.e. sending an e-mail). If you choose not to participate in these activities, your choice will in no way effect your ability to use any other feature of the Executive Ethics Board website.
If you volunteer personal information, state law and the federal Privacy Act of 1974 may protect. However, this information is a public record once you provide it, and if it is not protected by an exemption from the Public Disclosure Law, RCW 42.56 or other state or federal law it may be subject to public inspection and copying.
You are always welcome to browse our site and you are not required to contact us by e-mail or submit complaint forms online. However we will not be able to process your complaints or log your comments if you choose to not contact us either online, by phone, or through the mail.
If you believe that your personal information is being used for a purpose other than what was intended when submitted, you may contact the Executive Ethics Board as shown in the Contact Information Section of this notice.
The Executive Ethics Board is a general audience site and we do not knowingly collect any personal information from children. Users are cautioned that the collection of personal information requested from or volunteered by children online or by e-mail will be treated the same as information given by an adult, and may be subject to public access.
Public Access to Information
In the State Of Washington, laws exist to ensure that government is open and that the public has a right to access appropriate records and information possessed by state government. At the same time, there are exceptions to the public's right to access public records that serve various needs including the privacy of individuals. Exceptions are provided by both state and federal laws.
All of the information collected at this site becomes public records that may be subject to inspection and copying by members of the public, unless an exemption in law exists. RCW 42.56.070(1) states that:
Each agency, in accordance with published rules, shall make available for public inspection and copying all public records, unless the record falls within the specific exemptions of subsection (6) of this section [RCW 42.56.070(6)], RCW 42.56.210, 42.56.320(4), or other statute which exempts or prohibits disclosure of specific information or records. To the extent required to prevent an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy interests protected by RCW 42.56.210 and 42.56.320(4), an agency shall delete identifying details in a manner consistent with RCW 42.56.210 and 42.56.320(4) when it makes available or publishes any public record; however, in each case, the justification for the deletion shall be explained fully in writing.
In the event of a conflict between this Internet Privacy Notice and the Public Records Act or other law governing the agency’s disclosure of records, the Public Records Act or other applicable law will control.
Cookies and applets
To better serve our users we are now using "cookies" to customize your browsing experience with the Executive Ethics Board web site. Cookies are simple text files stored on your computer by your web browser. They provide a method of distinguishing among visitors to the web site.
Cookies created on your computer by using this web site do not contain personally identifying information and do not compromise your privacy or security. We use the cookie feature only to store a randomly generated identifying tag on your computer. You can refuse the cookie or delete the cookie file from your computer by using any of the widely available methods.
This site does not currently require any special applets to enhance the browsing experience.
Security
The Executive Ethics Board, as developer and manager of this web site, has taken several steps to safeguard the integrity of its data and prevent unauthorized access to information maintained by our agency. These measures are designed and intended to prevent corruption of data, block unknown or unauthorized access to our systems and information, and to provide reasonable protection of private information in our possession.
This information should not be construed in any way as giving business, legal, or other advice, or warranting as fail proof, the security of information provided via the Executive Ethics Board’s web site.
Disclaimer
The Executive Ethics Board web site has many links to other web sites. These include links to web sites operated by other government agencies, nonprofit organizations and private businesses. When you link to another site, you are no longer on the Executive Ethics Board web site and this Internet Privacy Notice will not apply. When you link to another web site, you are subject to the privacy policy of that new site.
Reference in this web site to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the State of Washington, the Executive Ethics Board, or its officers, employees or agents.
Neither the State of Washington, nor any agency, officer, or employee of the State of Washington warrants the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information published by this system, nor endorses any content, viewpoints, products, or services linked from this system, and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this system does so at its own risk.
The Executive Ethics Board reserves the right to revise and update this Internet Privacy Notice at any time without notice by posting such revised Internet Privacy Notice at the Executive Ethics Board home page.
Executive Ethics Board Contact Information
You may contact the Executive Ethics Board to offer comments about this web site or about the information presented in this Internet Privacy Notice:
Executive Ethics Board
Address:
2425 Bristol Court SW, First FloorPO Box 40149
Olympia, WA 98504-0149
Telephone: 360-664-0871
Fax: 360-586-3955
E-Mail: ethics@atg.wa.gov
