RCW 15.65.305 and 15.04.200 provide that agricultural commodity boards or commissions shall adopt rules governing promotional hosting expenditures by agricultural commodity board or commission employees, agents, or commissioners. The rules governing promotional hosting expenditures for the Washington state hop board (commission) shall be as follows:

(1) Budget approval. Commission expenditures for agricultural development or trade promotion and promotional hosting shall be pursuant to specific budget items as approved by the commission at annual public hearings on the commission budget.

(2) Officials and agents authorized to make expenditures. The following officials and agents are authorized to make expenditures for agricultural development or trade promotion and promotional hosting in accordance with the provisions of these rules:

(a) Hop board members.

(b) Administrators. Individual commissioners shall make promotional hosting expenditures, or seek reimbursements for those expenditures, only in those instances where the expenditures have been approved by the commission.

(3) Payment and reimbursement. All payments and reimbursements shall be identified and supported by vouchers to which receipts are attached. Voucher forms will be supplied by the commission, and shall require the following information:

(a) Name and position of each person hosted, provided that in case of a group of twenty-five or more persons, then only the name of the group hosted shall be required.

(b) General purpose of the hosting.

(c) Date of hosting.

(d) Location of the hosting.

(e) To whom payment was or will be made.

(f) Signature of person seeking payment or reimbursement.

(4) The chair of the commission and administrator are authorized to approve direct payment or reimbursements submitted in accordance with these rules.

(5) The following persons may be hosted when it is reasonably believed such hosting will cultivate trade relations and promote sales of Washington-grown hops, provided that such hosting shall not violate federal or state conflict of interest laws:

(a) Individuals from private business.

(b) Foreign government officials.

(c) Federal and state officials: Provided, lodging, meals, and transportation will not be provided when such officials may obtain reimbursement for these expenses from their government employer.

(d) The general public, at meetings and gatherings open to the general public.

(e) Commissioners and employees of the commission when their attendance at meetings, meals, and gatherings at which the persons described in (a) through (d) of this subsection are being hosted will cultivate and promote sales of Washington-grown hops.