Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

AGO 1975 NO. 1 >

(1) Neither the superintendent of public instruction nor the state board of education has the authority under any existing statute or constitutional provision to formulate and implement a state‑wide [[statewide]] affirmative or corrective action policy for disadvantaged groups such as women or racial minorities which would be binding on all local school districts in their employment of personnel; under the supervisory authority granted to him by Article III, § 23 of the state constitution, however, the state superintendent of public instruction may require local school districts, in connection with their employment of personnel, to formulate and implement their own affirmative action policies for such disadvantaged groups, subject to such constitutional standards as may be applicable to those kinds of programs. (2) Such a requirement may be enforced by a mandamus action against any noncomplying school districts. (3) The state superintendent of public instruction has the authority to enforce federal affirmative action programs by refusing to disburse federal funds to noncomplying school districts.

AGO 1972 NO. 7 >

The contents of political advertising as regulated by statute; the placement of campaign signs to be used in partisan political races; and participation by state or local governmental employees in both partisan and nonpartisan political campaigns, including the holding of political party offices.

AGO 1986 NO. 12 >

RCW 41.26.150 makes the counties responsible for the costs of nursing home care for those individuals retired from county employment under the Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Act for so long as nursing home confinement is required. The county may reduce the amount paid monthly to a retiree by the amount currently received from another source as reimbursement for medical services but not for those monies received by the retiree for other purposes such as a general retirement allowance.

AGO 1951 NO. 145 >

Prisoners in county jails may only be compelled to work (1) not more than eight hours a day, (2) on public roads, county buildings and county grounds, (3) designated by the county commissioners, (4) under general rules promulgated by the superior court judges.

AGO 1962 NO. 146 >

(1) A member of the 37th legislature may accept an office or employment covered by the state civil service law provided the position is not a public office created by the 37th legislature or a public office the emoluments of which were increased by the 37th legislature provided the office is not incompatible with the office of a legislator or creates a conflict of interest. (2) A state employee or officer covered by the state civil service law may not engage in the management of partisan political campaigns, including his own, unless the campaign be one for a part-time public office in a political subdivision of the state.  Resignation or termination must precede engagement in the management of a campaign for legislative office. (3) A state employee who resigns his civil service position would be eligible for reinstatement provided he meets the requirements set forth in the merit system rule.