What We Do
The Executive Ethics Board enforces the Ethics in Public Service Act, RCW 42.52. The Board has jurisdiction over statewide elected officials and state employees in the executive branch; including boards and commissions and institutions of higher education. Board members as well as staff are dedicated to improving the public's confidence in state government by ensuring that state officers and state employees conduct themselves with the highest ethical standards and they conduct the state’s business in a manner that advances the public’s interest.
Training
The Ethics in Public Service Act does not currently mandate ethics training but does encourage training of all state employees every thirty-six months and requires all state agencies to designate an ethics advisor.
In-Person Training
The Board offers free training to any state agency. Board staff provides the training and will travel to agency locations across the state to ensure all agencies have equal access to the training.
If you are interested in scheduling training for your agency, please send us an e-mail or call us at 360.664.0871.
Online Ethics Quiz
Test your knowledge of the state’s ethics laws by taking the Ethics Challenge, a question and answer session regarding ethics in general.
Online Training
WA-State Ethics in State Government is a 90-minute online training through the Washington Learning Management System (LMS). This course highlights the Ethics in Public Service Act, RCW 42.52 including RCW 42.52.160 and WAC 292-110-010, Use of State Resources.
Outside Employment Contracts
Under WAC 292-110-060, a state officer or employee must receive board approval before entering into, or obtaining a beneficial interest in, a contract or grant with a state agency only if the process for awarding the contract or grant was not open and competitive, or, whenever only one bid or application was received. For more information on this process, including what information to send to the Board, go here.
Policy Review
Under RCW 42.52.360(4) and WAC 292-120-035, the Board may review and approve agency policies. When determining an appropriate sanction for violations of the Act, the Board may consider agency policies in effect at the time of the conduct and will not impose sanctions for conduct that would violate the Act if the conduct at issue was permitted under a board-approved agency policy. For all Board approved policies, go here.