Advisory Opinion 98-05

​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?

​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.

Retained