PROPOSED RULES
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 06-23-163.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Amending WAC 390-28-020 Definition -- Applicant, to remove reference to the out-of-date subsection; WAC 390-28-070 Hearing to modify reporting -- By affidavit or sworn statement, to correct a grammatical error; and WAC 390-28-080 Hearing to modify reporting -- Evidence, record, adverse decisions, to comply with a provision of the Administrative Procedure Act, RCW 34.05.449(5), and identify those rare circumstances that would give rise to the commission deciding to hear all or a portion of the details related to a reporting modification request in closed session.
Hearing Location(s): Commission Hearing Room, 711 Capitol Way, Room 206, Olympia, WA 98504, on June 28, 2007, at 9:30 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: June 28, 2007.
Submit Written Comments to: Doug Ellis, Public Disclosure Commission, P.O. Box 40908, Olympia, WA 98504-0908, e-mail dellis@pdc.wa.gov, fax (360) 753-1112, by June 25, 2007.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Kami Madsen by phone (360) 586-0544.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: To amend existing sections in chapter 390-28 WAC relating to reporting modifications to reflect current law and otherwise improve the rules.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: To provide guidance and clarification to the general public and persons requesting reporting modifications under chapter 42.17 RCW.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 42.17.370.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Agency Comments or Recommendations, if any, as to Statutory Language, Implementation, Enforcement, and Fiscal Matters: The rule amendments are designed to conform to provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, correct grammatical errors and remove out-of-date references.
Name of Proponent: The public disclosure commission (PDC), governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation: Doug Ellis, 711 Capitol Way, Room 206, Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 664-2735; and Enforcement: Phil Stutzman, 711 Capitol Way, Room 206, Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 664-8853.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The implementation of these rule amendments has minimal impact on small businesses.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. The PDC is not an agency listed in subsection (5)(a)(i) of section 201. Further, the PDC does not voluntarily make section 201 applicable to the adoption of these rules pursuant to subsection (5)(a)(i) of section 201, and, to date, JARRC has not made section 201 application to the adoption of these rules.
May 3, 2007
Vicki Rippie
Executive Director
OTS-9659.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 91-22-083, filed 11/5/91,
effective 12/6/91)
WAC 390-28-080
Hearing to modify reporting -- Evidence,
record, adverse decisions.
(1) All evidence presented at
hearings ((of the commission)) held pursuant to chapter 390-28 WAC and RCW 42.17.370(10) shall be considered to be a public
record((: Provided, That)). There is a presumption that all
hearings and evidence presented in hearing records are open to
the public. Requests for closure of hearings or portions of
hearings or hearing records generally will be denied.
However, pursuant to RCW 34.05.449(5) and 42.17.370(10), the
commission may close the hearing ((and hold an executive
session)) or a portion of the hearing or hearing record. The
commission may close a hearing or portion of a hearing or
hearing record for a limited purpose to protect compelling
interests and where closure is specifically justified if it
finds that it is necessary to allow the applicant to:
(a) Provide sufficient evidence to assure that proper findings are made regarding the name of an entity the disclosure of which would likely adversely affect the competitive position of the applicant as provided in RCW 42.17.370(10); or
(b) Provide other information or relevant legal authorities for which it finds a compelling interest has otherwise been shown by the applicant to close the hearing.
(2)(a) Before concluding that closure of a hearing or portion of a hearing or hearing record is warranted, the commission must find by clear and convincing evidence that:
(i) The applicant has satisfied a basis for seeking closure under subsection (1)(a) or (b) of this section;
(ii) An open hearing or record to report the information would work a manifestly unreasonable hardship on the applicant;
(iii) Anyone present when the closure request is made has been given an opportunity to object to the closure;
(iv) The proposed method for closing the hearing or hearing record is the least restrictive means available for protecting the threatened interests, after considering alternatives;
(v) The commission has had the opportunity to weigh the competing interests of the applicant seeking closure and the public's interests;
(vi) Closing the hearing or portion of the hearing or hearing record will not frustrate the purposes of chapter 42.17 RCW; and
(vii) The proposed protective order is not broader in its application or duration than necessary to serve its purpose.
(b) All evidence presented at any portion of a ((hearing
held in executive)) closed session identifying the matters for
which the applicant requests modification under these rules
shall be considered ((and held)) confidential by the
commission pursuant to a protective order which shall be
entered by the commission unless otherwise ordered by a court
of competent jurisdiction. In the event that an
administrative law judge determines that testimony in private
may be necessary, the judge shall immediately adjourn the
hearing and refer the matter to the commission.
(((2))) (3) Any decision or order adverse to an applicant
rendered by the commission or the administrative law judge
shall be in writing or stated in the record and shall be
accompanied by findings of fact and conclusions of law.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.370. 91-22-083, § 390-28-080, filed 11/5/91, effective 12/6/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.370(1). 85-22-029 (Order 85-04), § 390-28-080, filed 10/31/85; Order 62, § 390-28-080, filed 8/26/75; Order 24, § 390-28-080, filed 2/21/74. Formerly WAC 390-28-070.]
OTS-9658.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 85-04, filed 10/31/85)
WAC 390-28-070
Hearing to modify reporting -- By affidavit
or sworn statement.
(1) An applicant may choose to waive a
personal appearance at a hearing conducted pursuant to chapter 390-28 WAC. In the event that an applicant chooses to waive
such appearance, that person shall submit a written, sworn
statement setting out in detail the rationale for requesting
modification or suspension.
(2) The commission, or the administrative law judge,
shall proceed to decide the application in the same manner as
if an appearance were made((: Provided, That)). However, in
the event the commission or the administrative law judge is
not able to reach a conclusion on the request because of an
insufficiency of the evidence, ((it may adjourn)) the hearing
may be adjourned for the purposes of gathering further
evidence, or ((it may deny)) the application may be denied.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.370(1). 85-22-029 (Order 85-04), § 390-28-070, filed 10/31/85; Order 64, § 390-28-070, filed 11/25/75; Order 62, § 390-28-070, filed 8/26/75; Order 24, § 390-28-070, filed 2/21/74. Formerly WAC 390-28-080.]
OTS-9657.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 91-22-083, filed 11/5/91,
effective 12/6/91)
WAC 390-28-020
Definition -- Applicant.
The term
applicant for the purposes of chapter 390-28 WAC shall mean
any person as defined in RCW 42.17.020(((21))) that seeks a
modification pursuant to RCW 42.17.370(10) and these rules.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.370. 91-22-083, § 390-28-020, filed 11/5/91, effective 12/6/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.370(1). 85-22-029 (Order 85-04), § 390-28-020, filed 10/31/85; Order 62, § 390-28-020, filed 8/26/75; Order 24, § 390-28-020, filed 2/21/74.]