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State law has strict laws regarding the use of state resources. These laws are covered in employee orientation for new faculty and staff of Western Washington University, but it's pretty easy to forget exactly what entails de minimis use, or what exactly constitutes a misuse of taxpayer funds.

, Use of persons, money or property for private gain, states:

(1) No state officer or state employee may employ or use any person, money, or property under
the officer's or employee's official control or direction, or in his or her official custody, for the
private benefit or gain of the officer, employee, or another.
(2) This section does not prohibit the use of public resources to benefit others as part of a state
officer's or state employee's official duties.
(3) The appropriate ethics boards may adopt rules providing exceptions to this section for
occasional use of the state officer or state employee, of de minimis cost and value, if the activity
does not result in interference with the proper performance of public duties.

But what does that mean? And how does it apply to you?

Check out from the Washington State Executive Ethics Board for a good overview of the law as it applies to state employees.

For more information, contact Kim Herrenkohl, Internal Audit director with Western's Office of the Internal Auditor, at kim.herrenkohl@wwu.edu or (360) 650-3435.