BILL REQ. #:  H-2775.3 



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HOUSE BILL 2202
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State of Washington63rd Legislature2014 Regular Session

By Representatives Carlyle, Pollet, Bergquist, Hudgins, and Riccelli

Prefiled 01/10/14. Read first time 01/13/14.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.



     AN ACT Relating to the establishment of an open data policy to facilitate sharing and publication of government data; amending RCW 43.41A.120, 43.41A.010, 43.41A.125, and 43.41A.130; adding a new chapter to Title 42 RCW; recodifying RCW 43.41A.120, 43.41A.125, and 43.41A.130; decodifying RCW 43.41A.135; and repealing RCW 43.41A.115.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that new technologies have dramatically changed both the way government conducts business and the public's expectations about access to government information. Accessible government data is a valuable resource that can be used by citizens and businesses of the state to fuel entrepreneurship, innovation, and scientific discovery. Furthermore, making government data available online increases government transparency, effectiveness, and accountability. It is the intent of the legislature to encourage state and local government agencies that collect and create information to do so in a manner that supports downstream information processing and dissemination activities, ensuring that the default status of government data is open.

Sec. 2   RCW 43.41A.120 and 2011 c 60 s 38 are each amended to read as follows:
     Unless the context requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
     (1)(a) "Data" means final versions of statistical or factual information that:
     (i) Are in alphanumeric form reflected in a list, table, graph, chart, or other nonnarrative form, that can be digitally transmitted or processed;
     (ii) Are regularly created or maintained by or on behalf of an agency and controlled by such agency; and
     (iii) Record a measurement, transaction, or determination related to the mission of the agency.
     (b) As used in this subsection (1), "statistical or factual information" does not include image files, such as designs, drawings, maps, photos, or scanned copies of original documents, but it does include geographic information system data and statistical or factual information about such image files.
     (2) "Data set" means a named collection of related records maintained on a storage device, with the collection containing data organized or formatted in a specific or prescribed way, often in tabular form.
     (3)
"Local government" means every county, city, town, and every other municipal or quasi-municipal corporation.
     (((2))) (4) "Office" means the office of the chief information officer.
     (5) "Open" means freely available, machine readable, and formatted according to uniform technical standards to facilitate visibility and reuse of publishable data.
     (6) "Public data set" means data maintained on a computer system by, or on behalf of, an agency that the agency is permitted, required, or able to make available to the public. "Public data set" does not include:
     (a) Any portion of a data set to which an agency may deny access pursuant to the public records act, chapter 42.56 RCW, or any other provision of a federal or state law, rule, or regulation or local law;
     (b) Any data set that contains a significant amount of data to which an agency may deny access pursuant to (a) of this subsection, the redaction of which would impose undue financial, operative, or administrative burden on the agency;
     (c) Data that reflects the internal deliberative process of an agency or agencies, including but not limited to negotiating positions, future procurements, or pending or reasonably anticipated legal or administrative proceedings;
     (d) Data subject to copyright, patent, trademark, confidentiality agreements, or trade secret protection;
     (e) Proprietary applications, computer code, software, operating systems, or similar materials; or
     (f) Data related to internal agency administration, including employment records, internal employee-related directories or lists, and facilities data.
     (7)
"Public record" ((means as defined)) has the definitions in RCW 42.56.010 and chapter 40.14 RCW, and includes legislative records and court records that are available for public inspection.
     (((3))) (8) "State agency" includes every state office, department, division, bureau, board, and commission of the state, and each state elected official who is a member of the executive department.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   OPEN DATA PORTAL. (1) The chief information officer shall coordinate implementation and expansion of an open data portal to facilitate the sharing and publication of government data in an open format.
     (2) Within ninety days of the effective date of this section, the office shall:
     (a) Publish draft uniform standards for the open format of data submitted for publication on the open data portal and guidelines for agencies to use in complying with this section; and
     (b) Implement an online forum to solicit feedback from the public and to encourage public discussion on open data policies and public data set availability.
     (3) Within thirty days of the effective date of this section, each agency shall designate a data coordinator who:
     (a) Has authority equivalent to that of a deputy director or the head of a division or department within the agency;
     (b) Has knowledge of data and resources in use by the agency; and
     (c) Is responsible for that agency's compliance with this chapter.
     (4) Within one hundred eighty days of the effective date of this section, each agency shall provide to the office a proposed compliance plan, which shall include a catalog of the agency's public data sets and a timeline for making each data set publicly available in an open format.
     (a) In establishing the timeline, the agency shall prioritize publication of data based on the extent to which information:
     (i) Can be used to increase agency accountability and responsiveness;
     (ii) Improves public knowledge of the agency and its operations;
     (iii) Furthers the mission of the agency;
     (iv) Creates economic opportunity; and
     (v) Responds to a need or demand identified by public consultation.
     (b) If the agency has identified public data sets that it has not proposed to make public within five years of the effective date of this section, the agency's work plan must state the reasons why the data cannot be made available, and, to the extent practicable, the date by which the agency believes that it will be made available on the open data portal.
     (5) No later than one year after the effective date of this section, and annually thereafter, the office shall post on the open data portal and submit to the governor and the legislature an updated compliance plan. The update must include:
     (a) Specific measures undertaken since the immediately preceding update;
     (b) Specific measures that will be undertaken before the next update;
     (c) An update to the list of public data sets, if necessary;
     (d) Any changes to the prioritization of public data sets;
     (e) Any update to the timeline for the inclusion of data sets on the open data portal, if necessary; and
     (f) If a public data set cannot be made available on the open data portal within five years of the effective date of this section, the reasons why it cannot and, to the extent practicable, the date by which the agency believes that such public data set will be available on the open data portal.
     (6) Local governments are encouraged to prepare a catalog and timeline for publication of local government public data sets and to submit the data to the office for inclusion in the open data portal.
     (7) The office shall provide technical guidance, assistance, and expertise to assist agencies and local governments in participating in the open data portal. This may include, but is not limited to, adopting rules or providing models and guidelines for agencies to follow when:
     (a) Creating their data catalogs;
     (b) Setting a schedule for initial and ongoing publication of data;
     (c) Prioritizing data sets for publication;
     (d) Identifying and reviewing public data sets, including consultation with public records officers and other entities to ensure confidential or otherwise nonpublic information is not disclosed; and
     (e) Preparing data for publication in an open format pursuant to the uniform standard established under this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   LEGAL POLICY. (1) Public data sets made available on the open data portal are provided for informational purposes.
     (2) The open data portal must include a mechanism by which a member of the public who has identified deficiencies in a public data set can provide feedback to the office about the deficiency. The office may transmit the feedback to the agency that owns or controls the data set. If the agency deems the deficiency to be real and substantial, it may post a notice of such deficiency on the open data portal.
     (3) The state does not warranty the completeness, accuracy, content, or fitness for any particular purpose or use of any public data set made available on the open data portal, nor are any such warranties to be implied or inferred with respect to the public data sets furnished on the open data portal.
     (4) The state is not liable for any deficiencies in the completeness, accuracy, content, or fitness for any particular purpose or use of any public data set, or application using the data set, provided by any third party.
     (5) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to create a private right of action or claim on the part of any individual, entity, or agency to enforce its provisions. Failure to comply with this chapter does not result in liability to an agency.
     (6) The office shall conspicuously publish on the open data portal the legal policies set forth in this section.

Sec. 5   RCW 43.41A.010 and 2013 2nd sp.s. c 33 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The office of the chief information officer is created within the office of financial management.
     (2) Powers, duties, and functions assigned to the department of information services as specified in this chapter shall be transferred to the office of chief information officer as provided in this chapter.
     (3) The primary duties of the office are:
     (a) To prepare and lead the implementation of a strategic direction and enterprise architecture for information technology for state government;
     (b) To enable the standardization and consolidation of information technology infrastructure across all state agencies to support enterprise-based system development and improve and maintain service delivery;
     (c) To establish standards and policies for the consistent and efficient operation of information technology services throughout state government;
     (d) To establish statewide enterprise architecture that will serve as the organizing standard for information technology for state agencies;
     (e) To educate and inform state managers and policymakers on technological developments, industry trends and best practices, industry benchmarks that strengthen decision making and professional development, and industry understanding for public managers and decision makers; and
     (f) To coordinate implementation and expansion of the open data portal established in sections 3 and 4 of this act
.
     (4) In the case of institutions of higher education, the powers of the office and the provisions of this chapter apply to business and administrative applications but do not apply to (a) academic and research applications; and (b) medical, clinical, and health care applications, including the business and administrative applications for such operations. However, institutions of higher education must disclose to the office any proposed academic applications that are enterprise-wide in nature relative to the needs and interests of other institutions of higher education. Institutions of higher education shall provide to the chief information officer sufficient data and information on proposed expenditures on business and administrative applications to permit the chief information officer to evaluate the proposed expenditures pursuant to RCW 43.88.092(3).
     (5) The legislature and the judiciary, which are constitutionally recognized as separate branches of government, are strongly encouraged to coordinate with the office and participate in shared services initiatives and the development of enterprise-based strategies, where appropriate. Legislative and judicial agencies of the state shall submit to the chief information officer information on proposed information technology expenditures to allow the chief information officer to evaluate the proposed expenditures on an advisory basis.

Sec. 6   RCW 43.41A.125 and 1996 c 171 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     Within existing resources and consistent with section 3 of this act, state agencies shall plan for and implement processes for making information available electronically and for making public data sets available in an open format. Public demand and agencies' missions and goals shall drive the selection and priorities for government information to be made available electronically. When planning for increased public electronic access, agencies should determine what information the public wants and needs most. Widespread public electronic access does not mean that all government information is able to be made available electronically.
     (1) In planning for and implementing electronic access, state agencies shall:
     (a) Where appropriate, plan for electronic public access and two-way electronic interaction when acquiring, redesigning, or rebuilding information systems;
     (b) Focus on providing electronic access to current information, leaving archival material to be made available digitally as resources allow or as a need arises;
     (c) Coordinate technology planning across agency boundaries in order to facilitate electronic access to vital public information;
     (d) Develop processes to determine which information the public most wants and needs;
     (e) Develop and employ methods to readily withhold or mask nondisclosable data.
     (2) In planning or implementing electronic access and two-way electronic interaction and delivery technologies, state agencies and local governments are encouraged to:
     (a) Increase their capabilities to receive information electronically from the public and to transmit forms, applications, and other communications and transactions electronically;
     (b) Use technologies allowing public access throughout the state that allow continuous access twenty-four hours a day, seven days per week, involve little or no cost to access, and are capable of being used by persons without extensive technological ability; and
     (c) Consider and incorporate wherever possible ease of access to electronic technologies by persons with disabilities. In planning and implementing new public electronic access projects, agencies should consult with people who have disabilities, with disability access experts, and the general public.
     (((3) The final report of the public information access policy task force, "Encouraging Widespread Public Electronic Access to Public Records and Information Held by State and Local Governments," shall serve as a major resource for state agencies and local governments in planning and providing increased access to electronic public records and information.))

Sec. 7   RCW 43.41A.130 and 1996 c 171 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:
     Funding to meet the costs of providing access, including the building of the necessary information systems, the digitizing of information, ((developing)) the preparation of data in open and machine-readable formats, the development of the ability to mask nondisclosable information, and maintenance and upgrade of information access systems should come primarily from state and local appropriations, federal dollars, grants, private funds, cooperative ventures among governments, nonexclusive licensing, and public/private partnerships. Agencies should not offer customized electronic access services as the primary way of responding to requests or as a primary source of revenue. Fees for staff time to respond to requests, and other direct costs may be included in costs of providing customized access.
     Agencies and local governments are encouraged to pool resources and to form cooperative ventures to provide electronic access to government records and information. State agencies are encouraged to seek federal and private grants for projects that provide increased efficiency and improve government delivery of information and services, including projects that facilitate or expedite the inclusion of all public data sets in the open data portal.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   RCW 43.41A.115 (Electronic access to public records -- Findings -- Intent) and 1996 c 171 s 1 are each repealed.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   RCW 43.41A.120, 43.41A.125, and 43.41A.130 are each recodified as sections in the new chapter created in section 11 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10   RCW 43.41A.135 is decodified.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 11   Sections 1, 3, and 4 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 42 RCW.

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