Ethics in Public Service Act
RCW 42.52.140
Gifts
Washington State Executive Ethics Board
2425 Bristol Ct SW
PO Box 40149
Olympia WA 98504
(360) 664-0871
RCW 42.52.140, Gifts, states:
No state officer or state employee may receive, accept, take, seek, or solicit, directly or
indirectly, any thing of economic value as a gift, gratuity, or favor from a person if it could be
reasonably expected that the gift, gratuity, or favor would influence the vote, action, or
judgment of the officer or employee, or be considered as part of a reward for action or inaction.
What does this mean?
In general, state employees cannot accept gifts with an aggregate value in excess of $50 from a
single source in a calendar year. The value of the gift given to an employee’s family or guest
will be attributed to the employee for the purpose of
determining whether the limit has been exceeded.
Clarifications or exemptions include:
• Items not considered gifts.
• Gifts you may accept without regard to the $50 limit.
• “Section 4” Employee gift limitations.
Items that are not considered gifts:
• Items from family members where it is clear that the gift was not made as part of any
effort to gain or maintain influence in the agency of which the recipient is an employee.
• Items related to the outside business of the recipient which are customary and not
related to the recipient’s performance of official duties.
• Items exchanged among employees, or a social event hosted by a
state employee for co-workers.
• Items a state employee is authorized by law to accept.
• Items returned by the recipient to the donor within 30 days of r
donated to a charitable organization within 30 days of receipt.
eceipt
or
• Campaign contributions reported under 42.17 RCW.
• Discounts available to an individual as a member of an employee group, occupation, or
similar broad-based group.
• Awards, prizes, scholarships, or other items provided in
recognition or academic/ scien