How to Effectively Handle First Amendment “Audits”

Webinar Overview:
First Amendment “audits” are occurring more frequently at public agencies across Washington State. These “audits” involve individuals arriving unannounced at an agency premises and recording their interaction with officials and staff. The intent is to test how the agency responds to the asserted First Amendment rights of the auditor, which can be challenging to deal with appropriately in the moment.

This updated webinar—last offered in 2024—is presented in partnership with the Washington Cities Insurance Authority (WCIA). It is designed to equip state and local government staff and officials with the knowledge and tools needed to respond effectively and professionally when faced with a First Amendment audit, whether at the front counter or during a public meeting.

Educational Objectives:
This webinar’s goal is to provide attendees with a better understanding of First Amendment auditors’ legal rights and appropriate responses local governments can take when faced with First Amendment audits. The main learning objectives are:

• Recognizing and anticipating audits: Understand who First Amendment auditors are, what motivates them, and where audits are likely to occur.
• Legal foundations: Learn the laws governing public recording, free speech, and the boundaries between protected and prohibited behavior.
• Preparation and policy: Discover best practices for developing agency policies and training staff to handle audits confidently and consistently.
• De-escalation techniques: Explore communication strategies to manage tense interactions, reduce conflict, and prioritize staff safety.

Who Should Attend:
This training is ideal for front-counter staff, managers, agency attorneys, and elected officials who may encounter First Amendment audits and want to be prepared to respond appropriately.

Presenters:

• Janelle Tarasewicz, Principal Consultant for Aperture EQ. Janelle is a learning and development professional with over 20 years of experience helping private and public-sector managers and employees improve individual and team performance. Janelle has also spent over 15 years as a psychology instructor and is currently a faculty member at Bellevue College. Janelle holds a Master’s degree in Psychology from Pepperdine University and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from the University of Southern California (USC). Janelle is a current doctoral student at USC, working toward her Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership.
• Harry Boesche, Legal Consultant, MRSC. Harry joined MRSC as a legal consultant in April 2024. A municipal attorney with over 20 years of experience, he has served as a prosecutor and legal advisor to various Puget Sound local governments including Auburn, Tumwater, Roy, and Ruston. In addition to his legal practice, he has been a paralegal instructor at Tacoma Community College for over 20 years, teaching courses in labor and employment law, legal writing and civil procedure.
• Flannary Collins, Managing Attorney, MRSC (Moderator). Flannary first joined MRSC as a legal consultant in August 2013 after serving as assistant city attorney for the city of Shoreline where she advised all city departments on a wide range of issues. At MRSC, Flannary enjoys providing legal guidance to municipalities on all municipal issues, including the OPMA, PRA, and elected officials’ roles and responsibilities. She also serves on the WSAMA Board of Directors as Secretary-Treasurer.

Training Scholarships:

• Enduris is pleased to offer scholarships for this MRSC webinar. As an Enduris member, your district is eligible for one (1) registration scholarship per entity. Funding is provided in the form of entity reimbursement; please submit reimbursement requests to memberrelations@enduris.us. For questions regarding scholarship opportunities or training, please contact Sindy Joseph at sjoseph@enduris.us.

Registration closes on Monday, December 15, at 5 PM. All registrants will also receive a link to view the webinar recording.

Payment Policy: Payment is completed online by card. If you need to be billed to pay offline, there will be a $5.00 administrative fee added to the total cost of registration. To request an invoice, please contact Jacob Rice (jrice@mrsc.org).

Refund Policy: Refunds will be provided minus a 5% administrative fee until the registration deadline at 5 PM on Wednesday, January 28. No refunds for cancelations or no-shows after the registration deadline. To request a refund, please contact Jacob Rice (jrice@mrsc.org).

If you are registered for the webinar and are unable to attend, you will still be able to view the recorded webinar afterwards. However, if you cancel your registration, you will not receive a link to the recording.