SENATE BILL REPORT

E2SHB 1317

As of February 19, 2010

Title: An act relating to disclosure of public records containing information used to locate or identify employees of criminal justice agencies.

Brief Description: Regarding the disclosure of public records containing information used to locate or identify employees of criminal justice agencies.

Sponsors: House Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Representatives Kessler, Rodne, Simpson, O'Brien, Hunt, Hurst, Ormsby, Moeller, Chase, Sullivan and Kelley).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/13/10, 95-0.

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 2/23/10.

Staff: Sharon Swanson (786-7447)

Background: The Public Records Act requires that all state and local government agencies make all public records available for public inspection and copying unless they fall within certain statutory exemptions.

A denial of a public records request must be accompanied by a written statement of the specific reasons for the denial. Any person who is denied the opportunity to inspect or copy a public record may file a motion to show cause in superior court why the agency has refused access to the record.

A criminal justice agency is a court or a government agency which performs the administration of criminal justice pursuant to a statute or an executive order and which allocates a substantial part of its annual budget to the administration of criminal justice.

Summary of Bill: Photographs and month and year of birth found in the personnel files of employees and workers of criminal justice agencies are exempt from public inspection and copying under the Public Records Act.

The news media must still have access to the photographs and birth information.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.