Complaint Opinion 23-05
Date
07/25/2023
Number
2023 - No. 5
Topic
Honorarium
Respondent
Rep. Tarra Simmons
Question/Complaint
Has RCW 42.52.130 been violated when a legislator accepts $1000 for participating on a panel to discuss her lived experience when she was invited by a personal friend but while on the panel discusses her legislative work?
Summary
Yes. The burden of proof is on legislators to prove they were invited in their personal capacity by an organization that does not lobby the state legislature. Receiving the invitation from a friend on a personal email account is only one element in proving that one was asked in a personal capacity and if the legislator discusses his or her legislative work while on the panel, he or she cannot accept an honorarium.