The Ethics in Public Service Act (Ethics Act) prohibits state officers and state employees from using their public employment for personal gain or private advantage, or to provide special privileges or exemptions for anyone else unless required to perform duties within the scope of their employment.

The Ethics Act also places limitations on the solicitation and receipt of gifts.  A "gift" is anything of economic value for which no consideration is given.  A "gift" does not include items as specified under statute, such as:

• items from family members or friends where it is clear beyond a reasonable doubt that the gift was not made to influence the recipient;
• items that are customary and not related to the recipient's official duties;
• items exchanged among employees at social events;
• payments by a governmental or nongovernmental entity incurred in connection with a speech, presentation, appearance, or trade mission made in an official capacity;
• payments for enrollment and course fees, including travel expenses, for attending seminars and educational programs sponsored by a bona fide governmental or nonprofit professional, educational, trade, or charitable association or institution; and
• discounts available to an individual as a member of an employee group, occupation, or similar broad-based group.

State officers and state employees may not receive or solicit anything of economic value as a gift, gratuity, or favor from any person if it could reasonably be expected that the gift, gratuity, or favor would influence the vote, action, or judgment of the officer or employee, or be considered a reward for action or inaction.  As a general rule, state officers and state employees are also prohibited from accepting gifts with an aggregate value in excess of $50 from a single source in a calendar year or a single gift from multiple sources with a value in excess of $50.  A "single gift" includes any event, item, or group of items used in conjunction with each other or any trip. 

Exemptions to the general rule are provided in statute and are items presumed to not influence the recipient.  Examples include the following:

• unsolicited flowers;
• unsolicited promotional items;
• unsolicited tokens or awards of appreciation;
• food and beverage consumption at a hosted reception related to official duties;
• admission to events, including food and beverages, sponsored by a civic, charitable, governmental, or community organization; and
• gifts solicited on behalf of a national legislative association or the annual conference of the National Association of State Treasurers, for the purpose of hosting an official conference within the state.

It is not a violation of the Ethics Act for legislators who serve as elected leaders of a regional or national legislative association and designated legislative employees to solicit and accept gifts, grants, or donations on behalf of the legislative association for an official conference held outside of the state.  A "regional or national legislative association" is any organization which:

• exists for the purpose of supporting legislators in the execution of their official duties;
• includes among its membership the Washington State Legislature; and
• is supported in part by the payment of annual dues by the Legislature.