Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Government Operations & Elections Committee |
HB 2239
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Exempting the identity of a caller to an enhanced 911 emergency communications system from the public records act.
Sponsors: Representatives Johnson, S. Hunt, Ross, Chandler, Warnick and Ormsby.
Brief Summary of Bill |
Exempts from public disclosure any information that would reveal the identity of a person who made a call to an enhanced 911 emergency communications system. |
Hearing Date: 1/28/14
Staff: Amanda Ondrick (786-7296) and Marsha Reilly (786-7135).
Background:
The Public Records Act (PRA) 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. The provisions requiring public records disclosure must be interpreted liberally and the exemptions narrowly in order to effectuate a general policy favoring disclosure.
Certain personal information is exempt from public inspection and copying under the PRA such as:
personal information of a child when enrolled in a public or nonprofit program serving youth;
personal information in files maintained for employees, appointees, or elected officials of any public agency;
credit, debit, or electronic check numbers; and
any record used to prove identity, age, residential address, social security number, or other personal information required to apply for a driver's license or identicard.
Currently, information about a person making a 911 call is not exempt from PRA. Each county alone, or in combination with other counties, has an enhanced 911 emergency communication system that uses an immediate display of a caller's identification and location.
Summary of Bill:
The exemptions pertaining to personal information are expanded. Any information that would reveal the identity of a person who made a call to an enhanced 911 emergency communications system is exempt from public inspection and copying.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.