WA People
BILL · 2013–14 SESSION · LATEST VERSION ESSB 5577

SB 5577: Public employee ethics

Protecting public employees who act ethically and legally.

Summary

  • Affords whistleblower protections to state employees who file a complaint with the appropriate ethics board, and establishes a $5,000 civil penalty for retaliation or reprisal against such an employee.
  • Exempts the identity of a state employee or officer who files a complaint with an ethics board or reports improper governmental action from disclosure under the Public Records Act.
  • Prohibits the Executive Ethics Board from delegating to its executive director its authority to issue advisories, advisory letters, or opinions.
  • Requires each executive branch agency to appoint an ethics advisor.

From the Engrossed Substitute House Bill Report (ESSB 5577), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 190, Laws of 2013
  1. IntroducedFeb 4, 2013
  2. Out of committeeMar 1, 2013
  3. Passed SenateMar 7, 2013
  4. Passed HouseApr 15, 2013
  5. GovernorMay 8, 2013
  6. LawMay 8, 2013
Prime sponsor
Mike Carrell (R-28)
Introduced
February 4, 2013 in the Senate
Last action
May 8, 2013
Session law
Chapter 190, Laws of 2013
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
SB 5577, ESSB 5577

AN ACT Relating to protecting public employees who act ethically and legally;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Mike Carrell (R-28)

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed March 7, 2013
Version voted on: ESSB 5577
47 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat24002
Republican23000
How each member voted

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed March 8, 2013
Version voted on: ESSB 5577
47 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat24002
Republican23000
How each member voted

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed April 15, 2013
Version voted on: ESSB 5577
96 Yea 1 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat55000
Republican41101
How each member voted

Yea (96)

Nay (1)

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed April 24, 2013
Version voted on: ESSB 5577
47 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat25001
Republican22001
How each member voted

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 7/28/2013. (ESSB 5577)
  2. Chapter 190, 2013 Laws. (ESSB 5577)
  3. Governor signed. (ESSB 5577)
  4. Delivered to Governor. (ESSB 5577)
  5. President signed. (ESSB 5577)
  6. Speaker signed. (ESSB 5577)
  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 47; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2. (ESSB 5577)
  8. Senate concurred in House amendments. (ESSB 5577)
  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 96; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 1. (ESSB 5577)
  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5577)
  11. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (ESSB 5577)
  12. Committee amendment not adopted. (ESSB 5577)
  13. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (ESSB 5577)
  14. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (ESSB 5577)
  15. Minority; do not pass. (ESSB 5577)
  16. GOE - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (ESSB 5577)
  17. GOE - Executive action taken by committee. (ESSB 5577)
  18. First reading, referred to Government Operations & Elections (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report). (ESSB 5577)
  19. Third reading, passed; yeas, 47; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2. (ESSB 5577)
  20. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5577)
  21. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (ESSB 5577)
  22. Held on second reading. (ESSB 5577)
  23. Returned to second reading for amendment. (ESSB 5577)
  24. Rules suspended. (ESSB 5577)
  25. Notice given to reconsider vote on third reading. (ESSB 5577)
  26. Third reading, passed; yeas, 47; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2. (ESSB 5577)
  27. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5577)
  28. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (ESSB 5577)
  29. 1st substitute bill substituted. (ESSB 5577)
  30. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  31. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (ESSB 5577)
  32. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  33. WM - Majority; do pass 1st substitute bill proposed by Human Services & Corrections. (ESSB 5577)
  34. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (ESSB 5577)
  35. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  36. WM - Majority; do pass 1st substitute bill proposed by Human Services & Corrections.
  37. Referred to Ways & Means. (ESSB 5577)
  38. Referred to Ways & Means.
  39. And refer to Ways & Means. (ESSB 5577)
  40. HSC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (ESSB 5577)
  41. HSC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  42. And refer to Ways & Means.
  43. First reading, referred to Human Services & Corrections.

SB 5577 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

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