1. (1) In this section, "related to the administrator" refers to an individual who is:

   1. (a) The administrator's spouse, partner in a civil union, domestic partner, or reciprocal beneficiary;
   2. (b) The administrator's child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, sibling, stepsibling, half-sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew;
   3. (c) A spouse, partner in a civil union, domestic partner, or reciprocal beneficiary of an individual under (b) of this subsection; or
   4. (d) Any individual residing in the administrator's household.
2. (2) The administrator may contract with a person to conduct an examination under this section and RCW 63.30.570 through 63.30.640 and 63.30.660 through 63.30.690. The contract may be awarded only under chapter 39.26 RCW.

3. (3) If the person with which the administrator contracts under subsection (2) of this section is:

   1. (a) An individual, the individual may not be related to the administrator; or
   2. (b) A business entity, the entity may not be owned in whole or in part by the administrator or an individual related to the administrator.

4. (4) If the administrator contracts with a person under subsection (2) of this section:

   1. (a) The contract may provide for compensation of the person based on a fixed fee, hourly fee, or contingent fee;
   2. (b) A contingent fee arrangement may not provide for a payment that exceeds 10 percent of the amount or value of property paid or delivered as a result of the examination; and
   3. (c) On request by a person subject to examination by a contractor, the administrator must deliver to the person a complete and unredacted copy of the contract.
5. (5) A contract under subsection (2) of this section is subject to public disclosure without redaction under chapter 42.56 RCW.

[ 2025 c 29 s 19; 2022 c 225 s 1009.]