BILL REQ. #:  H-0636.2 

Read first time 01/09/2007.   Referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs.

     AN ACT Relating to a legislator's use of public resources; amending RCW 42.52.160; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   It is the intent of the legislature that chapter 42.52 RCW shall not be read to limit a legislator's use of public resources to only investigating facts surrounding an issue or dispute involving constituents and a government office or government official, or between constituents.

Sec. 2   RCW 42.52.160 and 1996 c 213 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) No state officer or state employee may employ or use any person, money, or property under the officer's or employee's official control or direction, or in his or her official custody, for the private benefit or gain of the officer, employee, or another.
     (2) This section does not prohibit the use of public resources to benefit others as part of a state officer's or state employee's official duties.
     (3) The appropriate ethics boards may adopt rules providing exceptions to this section for occasional use of the state officer or state employee, of de minimis cost and value, if the activity does not result in interference with the proper performance of public duties.
     (4) For purposes of subsection (3) of this section, a de minimis cost includes letters or electronic communication by a legislator advocating a personal position when gathering facts and investigating issues or disputes involving constituents and a government office or government official, or between constituents. All such letters and electronic communications are subject to public disclosure.