Complaint Opinion 13-01
Date
12/28/2013
Number
13-01
Topic
Complimentary meals for legislators
Respondent
Ericksen, Litzow, Fain, Hewitt and Schoesler
Question/Complaint
Alleged that legislators accepted free meals and beverages on more than "infrequent occasions."
Summary
RCW 42.52150(5) allows legislators to accept complimentary meals and beverages from lobbyists and others provided the acceptance is infrequent. The statute does not define "infrequent occasions" and the Board determined that absent a definition it would be unfair to penalize any legislator for meals already accepted. The Board concluded that after the 2014 regular legislative session it would engage in rule-making in an effort to establish a standard if the Legislature chose not to do so during the session. The complaint was dismissed and the Board determined no further complaints on this issue would be entertained until a standard was established.