PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Administrative dismissal of ethics complaints.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Section 2(1), chapter 211, Laws of 2000, ethics board complaint review.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Amendment authorizes staff of the ethics board to issue an order of dismissal for complaints that are (a) not within the board's jurisdiction; (b) complaints that are unfounded or frivolous; or (c) a violation that is inadvertent and minor, or has been cured, when further proceedings do not serve the purposes of chapter 42.52 RCW. Provides for appeal of dismissals to the ethics board.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: The board requests written comments from persons who may be interested in the development of rules implementing staff dismissals of ethics complaints. Comments will be reviewed and considered by the board before proposed rules are published pursuant to a formal notice.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Debbie O'Dell, HRC 1, 1125 Washington Street S.E., P.O. Box 40100, Olympia, WA 98504-0100, (360) 586-3265, (360) 664-0229. Written comments must be received by August 31, 2000. Comments will be reviewed by the board at its September regular meeting. Thereafter, the board will proceed with rule making.
June 5, 2000
Margaret A. Grimaldi
Executive Secretary