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Policy 627: Code of Ethics – All Employees

Operational Policy
Policy Number: 627
Adopted: March 2011

All employees of Grays Harbor College will be in compliance with RCW 42.52, the Executive Ethics Law.

Employees with questions about ethics and conflicts of interest may contact the Washington State Executive Ethics Board. Phone: 360-664-0871; Email: ethics@atg.wa.gov. Website: https://ethics.wa.gov/about-us/contact-us

Each employee of Grays Harbor College will acknowledge agreement with this policy annually.

To access RCW 42.52, please hit control and click on the links below that will take you directly to the ethics law on the designated subject:

42.52.010 – Definitions

42.52.020 – Activities incompatible with public duties.

42.52.030 – Financial interests in transactions.

42.52.040 – Assisting in transactions.

42.52.050 – Confidential information – Improperly concealed records.

42.52.060 – Testimony of state officers and state employees.

42.52.070 – Special privileges.

42.52.080 – Employment after public service.

42.52.090 – Limited assistance by former state officers and employees.

42.52.100 – Conditions on appearance before state agencies or doing business with the state—Hearing—Judicial review.

42.52.110 – Compensation for official duties or nonperformance.

42.52.120 – Compensation for outside activities.

42.52.130 – Honoraria.

42.52.140 – Gifts.

42.52.150 – Limitations on gifts.

42.52.160 – Use of persons, money, or property for private gain.

42.52.170 – Giving, paying, loaning, etc., anything of economic value to state employee.

42.52.180 – Use of public resources for political campaigns.

42.52.185 – Restrictions on mailings by legislators.

42.52.190 – Investments.

42.52.200 – Agency rules.

42.52.220 – Universities—Administrative processes.

42.52.310 – Legislative ethics board.

42.52.320 – Authority of legislative ethics board.

42.52.330 – Interpretation.

42.52.340 – Transfer of jurisdiction.

42.52.350 – Executive ethics board.

42.52.360 – Authority of executive ethics board.

42.52.365 – Executive branch agencies—Ethics advisors—Ethics training.

42.52.370 – Authority of commission on judicial conduct.

42.52.380 – Political activities of board members.

42.52.390 – Hearing and subpoena authority.

42.52.400 – Enforcement of subpoena authority.

42.52.410 – Filing complaint – Whistleblower protection – Penalty for reprisal or retaliation.

42.52.420 – Investigation.

42.52.425 – Dismissal of complaint.

42.52.430 – Public hearing—Findings.

42.52.440 – Review of order.

42.52.450 – Complaint against legislator or statewide elected official.

42.52.460 – Citizen actions.

42.52.470 – Referral for enforcement.

42.52.480 – Action by boards.

42.52.490 – Action by attorney general.

42.52.500 – Optional hearings by administrative law judge.

42.52.510 – Rescission of state action.

42.52.520 – Disciplinary action.

42.52.530 – Additional investigative authority.

42.52.540 – Limitations period.

42.52.550 – Compensation of ethics boards.

42.52.560 – Communications from an employee organization or charitable organization— Distribution by state employee.

42.52.570 – Private business activity policy—Department of fish and wildlife—Parks and recreation commission.

42.52.575 – Information about scholarship opportunities.

42.52.800 – Exemptions – Solicitation for state capitol historic furnishings and preservation and restoration of state legislative building.

42.52.801 – Exemption – Solicitation to promote tourism.

42.52.802 – Exemption – Solicitation for Washington state legacy project, state library, and archives account.

42.52.8021 – Exemption – Solicitation for Washington state flag account.

42.52.8022 – Exemption – Informational or educational meetings regarding legislative issues.

42.52.8023 – Exemption – Gina Grant Bull memorial legislative page scholarship account.

42.52.8024 – Exemption – Rosa Franklin legislative internship program scholarship.

42.52.803 – Exemption – Solicitation for legislative oral history account.

42.52.804 – Exemption – Health profession board or commission – Professional opinions.

42.52.805 – Solicitation for charitable activities of executive branch state employees – Limitations – Definitions.

42.52.810 – Solicitation for the legislative international trade account – Report.

42.52.820 – Solicitation for hosting national legislative association conference.

42.52.821 – Exemption – Solicitation to host conference of a national association.

42.52.900 – Legislative declaration.

42.52.901 – Liberal construction.

42.52.903 – Serving on board, committee, or commission not prevented.

42.52.904 – Effective date – 1994 c 154.

42.52.906 – Construction – Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships – 2009 c 521.

Policy Review History

Reviewed: N/A
Revised: April 2020, June 2022, July 2024

Review and Revision refers to the College’s cyclical process for evaluating and updating all institutional policies and procedures. At minimum, each policy or procedure will undergo review once every five years to ensure accuracy, relevance, and alignment with current practices and regulatory requirements. If the scheduled review results in no changes, the date of that review will be recorded in the Reviewed field. If updates or edits are made, the date will be recorded in the Revised field. This process maintains transparency regarding the history of each policy or procedure and ensures the College remains responsive to evolving needs and standards.