Washington Revised Code Title 48. Insurance § 48.02.090. Deputies--Employees

(1) The commissioner may appoint a chief deputy commissioner, who shall have power to perform any act or duty conferred upon the commissioner. The chief deputy commissioner shall take and subscribe the same oath of office as the commissioner, which oath shall be endorsed upon the certificate of his or her appointment and filed in the office of the secretary of state.

(2) The commissioner may appoint additional deputy commissioners for such purposes as he or she may designate.

(3) The commissioner shall be responsible for the official acts of his or her deputies, and may revoke at will the appointment of any deputy.

(4) The commissioner may employ examiners, and such actuarial, technical, and administrative assistants and clerks as he or she may need for proper discharge of his or her duties.

(5) The commissioner, or any deputy or employee of the commissioner, shall not be interested, directly or indirectly, in any insurer except as a policyholder; except, that as to such matters wherein a conflict of interests does not exist on the part of any such person, the commissioner may employ insurance actuaries or other technicians who are independently practicing their professions even though such persons are similarly employed by insurers.

(6) The commissioner may require any deputy or employee to be bonded as he or she shall deem proper but not to exceed in amount the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars. The cost of any such bond shall be borne by the state.