Washington State Executive Ethics Board

• Use of state facilities, including state agency web stites to provide links to private web sites that advocate for or Aagainst ballot initiatives or political candidates

1. May a state agency maintain a direct internet link to private non-governmental web sites?

Qualified Yes / See Opinion

2. May a state agency establish an internet link to a private web page which does not contain materials that advocate for, or against, a ballot initiative or political candidate even though the private web sites homepage may contain material that advocates for, or against, a ballot initiative or political candidate?

Qualified Yes / See Opinion

• Use of state facilities to support private commercial advertising activity

1. May an individual state officer or employee use state facilities, including state paid time, to participate in the creation or review of articles and other advertising materials that will be used to promote private commercial products and services?

No / See Opinion

2. May a state officer or employee, acting within the course of official duties and under the authority of his or her agency, use state facilities, including state paid time, to promote private commercial products and services?

Qualified Yes / See Opinion

• Conflicts of interest related to membership in groups that are sponsored by the department of natural resources

May the State Survey Manager, a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manager, also be an officer on a private non-profit organization that will receive funds under a Federal grant that was initiated and managed by the Survey Manager’s division?

Qualified Yes / See Opinion