The following is an Ethics in Public Service Act compliance reminder regarding the prohibition against using state resources for the purpose of attempting to influence the state legislature (lobbying).
This is the time of the year when political campaigns for both elective offices and initiatives begin. Many state and federal seats will be on the November ballot.
Lobbying is defined in RCW 42.17.020 as: “. . . attempting to influence the passage or defeat of any legislation by the legislature of the state of Washington, or the adoption or rejection of any rule, standard, rate, or other legislative enactment of any state agency under the state Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW. Neither lobby nor lobbying includes an association’s or other organization’s act of communicating with the members of that association or organization.”
The Ethics in Public Service Act, RCW 42.52 does not prohibit you from lobbying as a private citizen. It does, however, prohibit you from using any state resources to lobby. State resources include, but are not limited to, your office and office equipment, computing equipment, mobile devices, network, desk phone, your time and time of other staff during your working hours.
There are limited activities that are excluded from this prohibition:
- Activities that are the normal and regular conduct of your office
- A statement by an elected official in an open press conference, in response to a specific inquiry or incidental remarks in an official communication or for which no actual, measurable expenditure of public funds is made
- De minimis use of public facilities by an elected official incidental to the preparation or delivery of permissible communications
For more information contact Internal Audit at ia.central@wsu.edu, or the EEB at www.ethics.wa.gov.
