PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Public records disclosure.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 42.56 RCW (Public Records Act) and RCW 82.01.060 (department of revenue's rule-making authority).
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The law governing disclosure of public records was reorganized and amended, effective July 1, 2006. These rules will provide up-to-date citations to the Public Records Act and will replace the department of revenue's 1978 public records disclosure rules (chapter 458-276 WAC).
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The attorney general has adopted model public records disclosure rules that provide a great deal of information about the Public Records Act and its interpretation (chapter 44-14 WAC). The department of revenue's rules will align with and reference the attorney general's rules.
Process for Developing New Rule: Persons and organizations interested in this rule making may contact the department of revenue employee listed below by September 28, 2006, with suggestions for proposed rules or attend the public meeting on September 28, 2006, to provide suggestions for the proposed rules. Once the proposed rules have been published, interested persons and organizations may comment on the proposed rules in writing or by giving oral testimony at the public hearing that will be scheduled when the proposed rules are published.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by commenting to Suzanne L. Mager, Taxpayer Services Division, Department of Revenue, P.O. Box 47478, Olympia, WA 98504-7478, e-mail SuzanneM@dor.wa.gov, phone (360) 705-6641, fax (360) 705-6655.
Public Meeting Location: Capital Plaza Building, 4th Floor Large Conference Room, 1025 Union Avenue S.E., Olympia, WA, on September 28, 2006, at 11:00 a.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Sandy Davis no later than ten days before the meeting date, TTY (800) 451-7985 or (360) 725-7499.
August 22, 2006
Alan R. Lynn
Rules Coordinator