The requirements of state ethics laws apply to all board members operating in their role as a commissioner, including prohibitions against conflicts of interest, pursuant to chapter 42.52 RCW.

(1) Conflict of interest at board and board committee meetings.

(a) When a member of the board will benefit, directly or indirectly, from a grant, project, issue, or other matter before the board or a committee of the board, he/she shall notify the chair, executive director, or fellow committee members. In relation to approval of grants, indicators of a conflict include financial or management ties to a specific project, such as salary, ownership, hands-on management or directorship by the commissioner, or a member of the commissioner's household or immediate family.

(b) A commissioner with a conflict of interest shall recuse himself/herself from the decision by taking the following actions:

(i) Recuse himself/herself from board/committee discussion regarding the specific grant, project, issue, or matter;

(ii) Recuse himself/herself from the board/committee vote on the specific grant, project, issue, or matter;

(iii) Refrain from attempting to influence the remaining commissioners at their discussion and vote regarding the specific grant, project, issue, or matter.

(c) Recusal may include leaving the room, if so requested by the chair or fellow committee members.

(d) If possible, where there is a known conflict of interest regarding an action item at a board meeting, the item will be scheduled in such a manner that the commissioner can participate in other action items.

(2) Perceived conflict of interest at a board or committee meeting. Any member of the board or committee who feels that he/she has no prohibited conflict of interest but does have a personal or professional interest which the public might misconstrue in the particular situation, may either voluntarily recuse, as identified above; or disclose the interest to those present, and if there is no objection from anyone present, proceed to discuss and vote on the item. If there is an objection the chair shall determine if recusal is necessary and appropriate.