Washington State Executive Ethics Board

1. May a state employee use state vehicles or other state resources to attend meetings or conduct union business related to contract negotiation and administration?

See Opinion

2. Does the Ethics in Public Service Act prohibit certain uses of State facilities by a union?

See Opinion

• Use of State facilities to conduct union business

1. May a state employee use state vehicles or other state resources to attend meetings or conduct union business related to contract negotiation and administration?

See Opinion

2. Does the Ethics in Public Service Act prohibit certain uses of State facilities by a union?

See Opinion

• Use of state resources - frequently asked questions and examples

1. Are there general guidelines for the use of state resources?

Yes / See Opinion

2. What types of state resources are covered under the ethics law?

See Opinion

3. What exactly is a “private benefit or gain”?

See Opinion

4. I've heard that de minimis use is allowed. What is a de minimis use anyway?

See Opinion

• Conflicts between the regulatory and proprietary functions of the Department of Natural Resources

Does the Ethics in Public Service Act address conflicts between the regulatory and proprietary functions of the DNR?

No / See Opinion

• Use of State facilities, including electronic mail, to distribute newspaper articles and editorial opinions

1. May a state agency use state resources to collect and distribute newspaper articles or editorial opinions to agency employees via e-mail, and may the state agency also distribute the newspaper links to individuals and groups outside the state agency who have expressed an interest in receiving the material?

Qualified Yes / See Opinion

2. If the answer to 1 is yes, may the agency distribute the newspaper articles or editorial opinions if they discuss a candidate for public office, a ballot initiative, or a referendum?

See Opinion

3. If the answer to 1 is yes, may the agency distribute newspaper articles or editorial opinions that discuss commercial companies or products that are related to the agency mission?

See Opinion

• Use of State resources to gamble

1. May a state officer or employee use state facilities or resources to gamble?

Generally no / See Opinion

2. If a specific gambling activity, such as a sports pool, was legal, could a state officer or employee use state facilities on a de minimis basis to conduct that activity?

Generally no / See Opinion