Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

AGLO 1973 NO. 6 >

The provisions of RCW 42.23.010, et seq., prohibiting certain municipal contracts because of "beneficial interests" therein by officers of the municipality do not apply where the officer's interest is not of a pecuniary or financial nature.

AGO 1955 NO. 10 >

A statute enacted by the state legislature providing that the city council may determine by ordinance whether certain city officials shall be elective or appointive would not constitute an invalid delegation of legislative power under Amendment VII of the Washington Constitution.

AGO 1968 NO. 13 >

In the absence of a contrary provision in the corporate articles or bylaws, the president of a domestic corporation to which the provisions of Title 23A RCW apply, may concurrently hold any other office in the same corporation except the office of secretary; conversely, under such circumstances the secretary may hold any other office in the corporation except the office of president.

AGO 1953 NO. 35 >

Receipt of both salary from public employment and retirement benefits under the State Employees Retirement Act is not legally permissible. either in the case of elective officials or appointive officials.

AGLO 1976 NO. 49 >

A county charter may provide for the nonpartisan election of county council members.

AGO 1955 NO. 59 >

Where a public utility district has less than the minimum number of employees required to contract for group insurance, it may not provide insurance for its commissioners.

AGO 1953 NO. 65 >

1. Where death occurs without medical attendance and circumstances suggest that the death or still-birth [[stillbirth]]was caused by unlawful or unnatural causes, the coroner, or if there is no coroner, the prosecuting attorney should sign the death certificate. 2. Where death occurs without medical attendance and there is no suspicion of death from unlawful or unnatural causes, either the local health officer, his deputy, or the coroner; or if there is no health officer and no coroner, then the prosecuting attorney should sign the certificate.

AGO 1953 NO. 72 >

1. State employees retirement.  Extension of service of an employee passed 70 years of age is effective beyond April 1, 1953, not withstanding the passage of chapter 200, Laws of 1953. 2. Such extension entitles the employee to continue to be a fully contributing member and qualify for further benefits under the retirement act. 3. Section 21, chapter 200, Laws of 1953 has no effect upon the rights of such employee to continue in service and to continue to be a fully contributing member of the retirement system.

AGO 1953 NO. 73 >

Municipal corporations cannot legally reimburse an officer for expenses incurred while attending a national convention outside the state.

AGO 1955 NO. 91 >

Legislator, as member of statutory interstate committee on highway problems, may be reimbursed for expenses from motor vehicle fund.