Advisory Opinion 96-05
Date
04/18/1996
Number
96-05
Requester
Ed Seeberger
Topic
Private Use of Public Resources - Book on Legislative Process
Issue/Question
Legislative employee seeks permission to use public resources to update a new edition of a book he wrote on the legislative process. He would receive no compensation through his contract with the University of WA Press and the publisher will provide free copies for the state library and the legislature.
Summary
Whether an employee may prepare such publications depends on whether he has official authorization from his employer and if he does then he may use his state computer in the manner specified in the question. Informing the public on the workings of the legislative branch is an important function. RCW 42.52.020, 42.52.070, 42.52.120 and 42.52.160.