(1) Any employee, as defined in WAC 383-06-020(8), may participate in the program.

(2) Employees are ineligible to receive monetary awards through the program for the following categories, except through internal recognition in accordance with RCW 41.60.150. It is up to the agency head to make the determination whether the following categories of suggestions will receive internal recognition:

(a) Suggestions that fall within the suggester's job responsibility. The following circumstances are considered to fall within this category:

(i) Employees whose normal duties involve research and planning, unless unrelated to their routine work assignment;

(ii) The employee has the authority to implement the change;

(iii) The suggestion falls within the suggester's normal assigned job responsibilities;

(iv) The employee has been given the change as a work assignment or the suggested change has been tasked to a team that includes the suggester.

(b) Suggestions submitted after the idea is implemented. Implementation means the time the idea becomes fully operational.

(c) Suggestions wherein the suggester either directly or indirectly has a proprietary interest in the suggestion.