RCW 42.52.490
Action by attorney general.
(1) Upon a written determination by the attorney general that the action of an ethics board was clearly erroneous or if requested by an ethics board, the attorney general may bring a civil action in the superior court of the county in which the violation is alleged to have occurred against a state officer, state employee, former state officer, former state employee, or other person who has violated or knowingly assisted another person in violating any of the provisions of this chapter or the rules adopted under it. In such action the attorney general may recover the following amounts on behalf of the state of Washington:
(a) Any damages sustained by the state that are caused by the conduct constituting the violation;
(b) From each such person, a civil penalty of up to five thousand dollars per violation or three times the economic value of any thing received or sought in violation of this chapter or the rules adopted under it, whichever is greater; and
(c) Costs, including reasonable investigative costs, which shall be included as part of the limit under (b) of this subsection. The costs may not exceed the penalty imposed. The payment owed on the penalty shall be reduced by the amount of the costs paid.
(2) In any civil action brought by the attorney general upon the basis that the attorney general has determined that the board's action was clearly erroneous, the court shall not proceed with the action unless the attorney general has first shown, and the court has found, that the action of the board was clearly erroneous.
[ 1994 c 154 § 219.]
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 42 - Public Officers and Agencies
Chapter 42.52 - Ethics in Public Service.
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 and exemptions—Application of section to legislature.
42.52.080 - Employment after public service.
42.52.090 - Limited assistance by former state officers and employees.
42.52.110 - Compensation for official duties or nonperformance.
42.52.120 - Compensation for outside activities.
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., any thing of economic value to state employee.
42.52.180 - Use of public resources for political campaigns.
42.52.185 - Restrictions on mailings by legislators.
42.52.310 - Legislative ethics board.
42.52.320 - Authority of legislative ethics board.
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.
42.52.425 - Dismissal of complaint.
42.52.430 - Public hearing—Findings.
42.52.450 - Complaint against legislator or statewide elected official.
42.52.470 - Referral for enforcement.
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.
42.52.575 - Information about scholarship opportunities.
42.52.801 - Exemption—Solicitation to promote tourism.
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.
42.52.810 - 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.