Legislative Ethics Board Advisory Opinions
Topic
Gifts - Complimentary Admission - Reasonable Expectation
Issue/Question
LEB Opinion Issue/Question
Does the Ethics Act
prohibit a legislator from accepting, from a political party, a complimentary
admission to political party events?
Summary
LEB Opinion Summary
No. Truly complimentary admission
from a political party is a customary and accepted practice and this practice
does not involve the concerns about gift giving (influence or reward) expressed
in the Act. If, however, a third person pays for attendance or if there is any
type of arrangement, agreement or understanding that payment by a third person
would pay or help pay for attendance, the admission is not complimentary and a
gift analysis is appropriate. RCW 42.52.010 and 42.52.140.
Document
LEB Advisory Opinion Document
Review Outcome and Date
Reviewed in June 2022 and retained. See Advisory Opinion 2021 – No. 1