Advisory Opinion 98-05
Date
07/09/1998
Number
98-05
Requester
Board’s own motion
Topic
Gift - Hosting Appreciation Dinners
Issue/Question
May a legislator or legislative staff person accept or solicit contributions from lobbyists for legislative "events," such as legislator and/or staff meetings or retreats; end of session "appreciation" events; or member gifts on the occasion of a first floor speech?
Summary
It is a violation of the Ethics Act to solicit these items from lobbyists or lobbyist-employers. If such gifts are wholly unsolicited, the statutory limits on receipt of gifts must be examined. RCW 42.52.070, 42.52.140 and 42.52.150.