FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1829

C 149 L 17

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning the exemption from public disclosure of information regarding public and private computer and telecommunications networks.

Sponsors: Representatives Hudgins, Johnson, Goodman, Klippert, Smith, Dolan, Haler, Koster, Volz, Kraft, Irwin, Stanford, Tarleton, Muri, Ormsby and McBride.

House Committee on State Government, Elections & Information Technology

Senate Committee on Energy, Environment & Telecommunications

Background:

Under the Public Records Act (PRA), all state and local agencies must make public records available for public inspection and copying, unless a record falls within specific exemptions in the PRA or other laws prohibiting the disclosure of specific information or records. For the purposes of the PRA, public records are any written information relating to the conduct of government or the performance of any governmental or proprietary function prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics. Provisions under the PRA requiring disclosure must be interpreted liberally, and exemptions must be narrowly construed to effectuate a general policy favoring disclosure.

Exemptions from disclosure under the PRA include records containing information regarding public safety and security. For example, information regarding the infrastructure and security of computer and telecommunications networks, consisting of passwords, access codes, recovery plans, risk assessments, and test results is exempt to the extent the release of the information may increase risk to agency security, information technology infrastructure, or assets.

Summary:

The PRA exemption regarding infrastructure and security of computer and telecommunication networks applies to information regarding both public and private networks.

Votes on Final Passage: