For the purposes of this chapter:

(1) "Actual residential address" means any physical locations where the participant resides, works, or attends school, for which the participant is requesting confidentiality.

(2) "Address confidentiality program (ACP)" means the agency employee designated by the secretary of state with responsibility for developing and administering the program that implements the provisions of chapter 40.24 RCW.

(3) "Agency" means ((an office))every elected or appointed state or local public office, public officer, or official, department, division, bureau, board, commission, committee, council, authority, agency, institution of higher education, or other unit of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the state; or any city, county, city and county, town, special district, school district, local improvement district, or other statutory unit of state or local government or any functional subdivision of that agency, or any other kind of municipal, quasi-municipal, or public corporation.

(4) "Applicant" means an adult person, a parent or guardian acting on behalf of a minor, if the minor resides with the applicant, or a guardian acting on behalf of an incapacitated person as defined in RCW 11.88.010.

(5) "Application assistant" means an employee of a state or local agency, or of a nonprofit program that provides advocacy, counseling, referral, or shelter services to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, trafficking, or stalking who has been designated by the respective agency, and has been accepted by the secretary of state to assist individuals with threat assessment, safety planning, determining whether the program's services can help keep the victim safe, and the completion and submission of the ACP application.

(((5)))(6) "Authorization card" means the official card issued by the secretary of state to a participant, which must state the participant's name, date of birth, substitute address, certification expiration date, and signature of the program participant.

(7) "Authorization card application form" means the incomplete form for an authorization card on which no identifying program participant information has been entered.

(((6)))(8) "Authorized personnel" means an employee of a county auditor's office, a county recording office, the Washington state department of health, or the office of the secretary of state who has been designated by the chief executive officer of the respective agency, to process and have access to voter application, voting records, marriage applications and records pertaining to program participants.

(((7)))(9) "Bona fide statutory or administrative requirement" means that without possession of an individual's actual residential address the agency is incapable of fulfilling its statutory duties and obligations.

(((8)))(10) "Certification" means that the secretary of state has determined that the eligible person meets the requirements for entering into or continuing in the program.

(11) "Change of identity" means that the program participant has changed the participant's name and Social Security number in an attempt to sever all connections to a previous name.

(12) "Criminal justice participant" means a criminal justice employee as defined in RCW 9A.46.020 who is a target for threats or harassment prohibited under RCW 9A.46.020 (2)(b)(iii) or (iv), and any family members residing with them.

(13) "Domestic violence" means an act as defined in RCW 10.99.020, including a threat of such acts, committed against an individual in a domestic situation, regardless of whether these acts of threats have been reported to law enforcement officers.

(14) "Mail" means first class letters and flats delivered via the United States Postal Service, including priority, express, certified, and registered mail, and excluding packages, parcels, periodicals, and catalogues, unless they are clearly identifiable as pharmaceuticals or clearly indicate they are sent by a government agency.

(15) "Mailing address" means the residential street address to which the secretary of state must forward a participant's mail, except in those cases where the United States Postal Service provides no delivery service to the residential address.

(16) "Minor child" means an individual who has not attained the age of eighteen, residing with or under the guardianship of an adult applicant or program participant.

(17) "Participant mail box (PMB)" means the specific identifier assigned by the secretary of state to a program participant for use in sorting mail and confirming program participation in accordance with subsection (10) of this section.

(18) "Program participant" means an individual accepted as certified for the program under RCW 40.24.030.

(19) "Protected records marriage" means a program participant who has applied for and qualified for protected marriage records, as provided under WAC 434-840-200 and 434-840-310.

(20) "Protected records voter" means a program participant who has applied and qualified for confidential voter registration, as provided under RCW 40.24.060, WAC 434-840-100, and 434-840-310.

(((9) "Record"))(21) "Public record" means any ((information relating to the conduct or performance of a governmental or proprietary function prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics.

(10) "Substitute mailing address" means the mailing address designated by the secretary of state which shall not be the program participant's residential address as documented on her or his application for program participation))paper, correspondence, completed form, bound record book, photograph, film, sound recording, map drawing, machine-readable material, compact disc meeting current industry ISO specifications, or other document, regardless of physical form or characteristics, and including such copies thereof, that have been made by or received by any state or local governmental agency of the state of Washington in connection with the transaction of public business, and legislative records as described in RCW 40.14.100.

(22) "Sexual assault" means an act as defined in RCW 70.125.030 and includes an attempt to commit such acts against an individual, regardless of whether these acts, attempts, or threats have been reported to law enforcement officers.

(23) "Stalking" means an act as defined in RCW 9A.46.110 and includes threats of such acts committed against an individual, regardless of whether these acts or threats have been reported to law enforcement officers.

(24) "Substitute address" means an address designated by the secretary, including the identification number that is used by a participant to receive mail, instead of providing their actual residence address.

(25) "Trafficking" means an act as defined in RCW 9A.40.100 or an act recognized as a severe form of trafficking under 22 U.S.C. Sec. 7102(8) as it existed on June 12, 2008, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the secretary of state by rule, consistent with the purposes of this subsection, regardless of whether the act has been reported to law enforcement.

(1) The ((program applicant shall provide all the information required on the certification application and date and sign the form. An applicant shall specify any))secretary of state shall certify an eligible person as a program participant when the secretary of state receives an application that contains:

(a) The full legal name and date of birth of the applicant(s);

(b) A listing of all minor children residing at the residential address, each minor child's full legal name, and each minor child's date of birth, and each minor child's relationship to the applicant;

(c) A listing of all adults residing at the residential address requesting participation, each adult's full legal name, date of birth, and relationship to the applicant;

(d) The Washington state residential addresses, work, and school addresses, if any, for which confidentiality is requested((. The standard application form shall also include the application preparation date, and the signature of the application assistant as provided in RCW 40.24.080.

(2) An individual who has filed a properly completed application shall be certified as a program participant and issued a program participant authorization card. The authorization card shall include the program participant's name, authorization code, substitute mailing address, certification expiration date, and applicant's signature.

(3) A properly completed application shall be effective on the day it is received by the address confidentiality program.

(4) The term of a program participant's certification shall be four years following the effective date of her or his application unless the certification is withdrawn or invalidated before that date));

(e) The telephone number of the applicant(s);

(f) The address to which mail should be sent, this may be the same as the residential address;

(g) A sworn statement, under penalty of perjury, by the applicant, that the applicant has good reason to believe either:

(i) That the applicant, or the minor or incapacitated person on whose behalf the application is made, is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, or stalking, and that the applicant fears for their safety or the safety of their children, or the safety of any minor children or incapacitated person on whose behalf the application is made; or

(ii) That the applicant, as a criminal justice participant as defined in RCW 9A.46.020, is a target for threats or harassment prohibited under RCW 9A.46.020.

(h) The state of Washington personnel number, if the applicant or any of the persons covered by the application is a Washington state employee;

(i) The applicant's signature;

(j) The date on which the applicant signed the application;

(k) The signature, printed name, and phone number of the application assistant designated by the secretary of state under RCW 40.24.080 who assisted in preparation of the application;

(l) A completed checklist of understanding, signed and dated by the applicant designating the secretary of state as legal agent for purposes of service of process and for the purpose of receipt of mail.

(m) Signed authorization card form for each member of household.

(2) The application must be completed and signed in the presence of an application assistant;

(3) The application assistant shall submit completed applications and any additional materials to the secretary of state using first class mail; and

(4) If the completed application does not meet the requirements of this part, the secretary of state shall contact the applicant to obtain missing information. The applicant shall be certified only if the missing information is provided.

(1) The secretary of state shall certify an eligible person, minor children, and adults residing at the residential address for whom a properly completed application or renewal is filed as a program participant.

(2) Upon certification of the applicant, the secretary of state shall issue, and mail, an address confidentiality program participant authorization card to the applicant's mailing address with instructions on how to use the address confidentiality program card. For participants under age eighteen, the card must be signed by the adult responsible for the participant. The authorization card shall include the program participant's name, authorization code, substitute mailing address, certification expiration date, and applicant's signature.

(3) A properly completed application shall be effective on the day it is received by the address confidentiality program.

(4) The term of a program participant's certification shall be four years following the effective date of her or his application unless the certification is withdrawn or invalidated before that date.

(5) At the time of certification, the secretary of state will send a voter registration application to the applicant accompanied by information related to participating in voting as a protected records voter.

(6) Secretary of state staff members must first verify the identity of an application assistant, program applicant, or program participant prior to any discussion of any data related to any applicant or participant or their certification.

(1) Program participants may use the substitute address provided by the secretary of state when interacting with any state or local agency on all forms or applications that require an address. This is done by providing the substitute address and presenting the authorization card and PMB authorization number to the agency.

(2) Every state or local government agency, or office, shall accept the substitute address issued by the secretary of state as the only address for all program participants when the participant provides the address and authorization card and authorization number. Program participants are not required to respond to any question regarding the details or circumstances of the person's inclusion in the program. The public agency may contact the secretary of state to verify program participation and for additional program information.

(3) Program participants are solely responsible for requesting the use of a substitute address by any agency as the participant's address for use in interaction with each agency or office.

(4) The secretary of state is the agent for receipt of all mail sent to program participants at the substitute address.

(5) All first class mail specifically addressed to the program participant at the substitute address must be forwarded at least every second business day to each participant's mailing address, using "return service requested" designation on the envelope. The secretary of state is not required to forward mail that is not specifically addressed to the participant.

(6) The secretary of state may hold a participant's mail for up to three business days upon request of the participant. The hold may be up to three weeks if the participant's request is written and signed and provides a contact telephone number for the hold period. The secretary of state must compare the signature on the hold request with that on file for the participant prior to holding the mail. In the absence of a specific hold date from the participant, the hold date is the date of receipt by the secretary of state.

(7) For services delivered to an actual physical address or tied to residency in a particular jurisdiction, the state or local agency must request only the smallest portion of the actual address needed to provide service, in addition to the substitute address.

(a) In cases in which all or part of the actual address has been disclosed pursuant to this section, the substitute address must be used by the agency as the address of the program participant for all public data or purposes that the actual address is not required.

(b) The secretary of state, upon request of the agency, shall suggest measures that assist in protecting the actual address and the participant's name against disclosure in any way. Measures may include, but are not limited to, assigning a pseudonym to the participant, keeping the actual address in the participant's paper file at an agency (not in an electronic system), and making the records password protected and limiting record access to a small pool of staff.

(1) At the time any state or local government agency creates a new record or updates an existing record, a program participant may request that the agency use the substitute mailing address as the participant's residence, work and/or school address.

(2) Program participants are solely responsible for requesting the use of a substitute address.

(3) A program participant shall show ((her or his))their authorization card to the agency official creating a new record and request address confidentiality through the use of the substitute mailing address as it appears on the authorization card, in lieu of ((her or his))their actual location.

(((3)))(4) The agency official creating a new record may make a file photocopy of the authorization card and shall immediately return the authorization card to the program participant. The agency official may call the program to verify an individual's current participation status in the program.

(((4)))(5) An agency shall accept the substitute ((mailing)) address unless the agency has received a written exemption from the secretary of state pursuant to RCW 40.24.050 and WAC 434-840-070.

(6) For services delivered to an actual address or tied to residency in a particular jurisdiction, the state or local agency must request only the smallest portion of the actual address needed to provide services, in addition to the substitute address.

(7) In cases in which all or part of the actual address has been disclosed pursuant to this section, the substitute address must be used by the agency as the address of the program participant for all public data or purposes that the actual address is not required.

(8) The secretary of state, upon request of the agency, shall suggest measures that assist in protecting the actual address and the participant's name against disclosure in any way.

When a participant reaches the age of eighteen, the secretary of state shall inform the participant of options related to continued participation in the address confidentiality program. These options include leaving the program, applying for continuation in the program, and reapplying on their own behalf.

(1) In anticipation of the participant's eighteenth birthday, the secretary of state shall send an application packet via first class mail to the participant's substitute address. The packet must include instructions on actions to be taken by age eighteen. The packet must include notice that if the participant does not respond within thirty days they will be removed from the program, they must return their authorization card, and mail forwarding will stop. If thirty days passes without contact from the participant, the secretary of state shall mail a final notice that the participant's certification will be canceled if the participant fails to submit the certification of continuance within ten days.

(2) The packet shall include the application form, checklist of understanding, authorization card form, and information about voter registration. The secretary of state must offer the participant the opportunity to register to vote as a protected records voter.

(3) The secretary of state shall renew the certification of a participant upon receipt of a completed application form and checklist of understanding. If the form is for continuance of participation, it does not require the signature of an application assistant. Responsibility for changes in information and renewal belong to the participant once the participant reaches age eighteen.

(4) A participant who reaches age eighteen and changes residence may reapply through an application assistant, or withdraw.

(5) Program participants that have reached age eighteen who have withdrawn, or allowed certification to expire, may reapply on their own behalf by contacting an application assistant.

(1) Participants and applicants shall send signed, written notification of any change in mailing or actual address, telephone number, legal name, or permanent contact data to the secretary of state.

(2) In order to add minor children to the residence of a program participant, the participant must send a signed written notification to the secretary of state. The notification must clearly state the relationship to the participant, the child's date of birth, and that the participant is responsible for the minor children. The secretary of state must certify the minor children as participants and issue program authorization cards to each minor child.

(3) If a participant changes their legal name, they must send a signed written notification to the secretary of state accompanied by a copy of the court order or other formal document indicating the legal name change. At the same time the participant must return their authorization card or a signed statement documenting the loss of the authorization card. The secretary of state shall verify the change, by signature comparison, and send a new authorization card with the participant's new legal name within two business days of receiving the notice.

(4) Prior to making any change in participant information, the secretary of state must compare the signature on the original application, or other documents on file, and conclude that the signatures are the same.

(5) On or before the effective date of a change in identity, a program participant must withdraw from the program. The participant may apply for recertification in the address confidentiality program under their new identity.

(1) At least thirty days prior to the expiration of a certification, the secretary of state shall inform a program participant, of the option of renewing certification in the program by sending a renewal form to the participant's mailing address. The notice must provide instructions on actions the participant must take upon expiration of certification, if the participant chooses to leave the program. These include return of the authorization card, notifying senders of the former participant's actual address and notifying that the substitute address is no longer valid for the former participant. Ten days prior to expiration of certification, the secretary of state must mail a second notice to the participant unless the participant has responded with a renewal or communication indicating intent to withdraw from the program.

(2) Information about voter registration should be provided to the participant as part of the notification process.

(3) A program participant may renew her or his program certification by first class mail filing with the address confidentiality program: (a) ((Her or his))The participant's current authorization card; (b) a properly completed renewal application and checklist of understanding forms; and (c) a new authorization card form((. The program participant shall provide all the information required on the renewal application form and date and sign the form))with signature.

(((2)))(4) If the completed renewal does not meet the requirements of this part, the secretary of state shall contact the participant or applicant to obtain the missing information.

(5) The address confidentiality program shall: (a) Certify a program participant, who has filed a properly completed renewal application form, to participate in the program for an additional four year term unless the certification is withdrawn or invalidated before that date; (b) issue to the program participant a new authorization card which includes the program participant's name, authorization code, substitute mailing address, certification expiration date, and signature.

(6) A properly completed renewal, postmarked on or before the expiration date, is effective on the day it is reviewed and certified by the secretary of state.

(1) The address confidentiality program shall terminate a participant's certification and invalidate that participant's authorization card if:

(a) The participant's certification term has expired and renewal of certification is not completed;

(b) The address confidentiality program has determined that false information was used in the application process; or

(2) The address confidentiality program may terminate a participant's certification and invalidate that participant's authorization card if:

(a) The participant no longer resides at the residential address on file, and has not provided at least two days prior notice in writing of a change of address;

(b) Any first class or certified mailing, or service of process document forwarded by the program is returned as nondeliverable, refused, or unclaimed; or

(3) The address confidentiality program shall send written notification of the pending termination to the participant's last known mailing or residential address. The participant shall have ten business days in which to appeal the termination under procedures developed by the secretary of state.

(4) After the secretary of state has provided notice as required in subsection (3) of this section the participant's certification is considered to be in pending status. While in this status, the secretary of state must hold the participant's mail without forwarding to the participant. Pending status ends after ten business days, or upon the participant's compliance with this section, whichever occurs first. This does not prevent the secretary of state from forwarding correspondence marked "service of process."

(5) If the participant's pending cancellation status expires, the secretary of state must cancel the certification of the program participant.

(6) The address confidentiality program shall notify authorized election officials and authorized Washington state department of health personnel if the participant is registered to vote or has a protected records marriage license when a participant's authorization has been terminated from the program. The authorized elections and health department personnel shall transmit to the address confidentiality program all appropriate administrative records pertaining to the participant.

(7) If the certification of a participant is canceled, mail addressed to the program participant must be returned to sender.

(1) A program participant or applicant may withdraw from program participation by submitting to the address confidentiality program: Written notification of withdrawal and ((her or his))the names of any minor children who are being withdrawn and their current authorization ((card))card(s).

(2) The program participant or applicant may include an effective date on which the participant or applicant would like the withdrawal to be effective. In absence of a specific date, certification shall be terminated on the date of receipt of this notification. If the program participant requests cancellation but does not return ((her or his))their current authorization card and/or does not submit written notification of the request, the secretary of state may, at his/her discretion, cancel program participation based solely on the verbal request.

(((2) The address confidentiality program shall terminate a program participant's certification and invalidate her or his authorization card if: (a) The program participant's certification term has expired and certification renewal has not been completed; (b) the address confidentiality program has determined that false information was used in the application process; or (c) the program participant fails to respond to the program's request for verification of the participant's residential address.

(3) The address confidentiality program may terminate a program participant's certification and invalidate her or his authorization card if: (a) The program participant no longer resides at the residential address on file, and has not provided at least two days' prior notice in writing of a change of address; (b) first class mail, certified mail, or a service of process document forwarded to the program participant by the address confidentiality program is returned as nondeliverable, refused, or unclaimed; or (c) the program participant obtains a legal change of identity.

(4) The address confidentiality program shall send written notification of the termination to the participant's last known mailing or residential address. The program participant shall have five business days in which to appeal the termination under procedures developed by the secretary of state.

(5) The address confidentiality program shall notify the appropriate authorized personnel when a participant has been terminated from the program. The authorized personnel shall transmit to the address confidentiality program all appropriate administrative records pertaining to the participant. The transmitting agency is no longer responsible for maintaining record confidentiality for a terminated program participant under chapter 40.24 RCW.))(3) It is the responsibility of the program participant to notify all persons of a new mailing address at which the participant can be contacted.

(4) The program participant may request continued mail forwarding up to thirty days immediately following the date on which withdrawal is effective and may provide an address on record. The secretary of state may only forward mail to addresses within the United States.

(5) Mail received at the designated address for the participant other than mail designated as "Do Not Forward," "Return Service Requested," "Service of Process" or similarly designated, must be forwarded to the program participant for thirty days after the effective date of withdrawal unless the participant or applicant has designated a shorter period. After thirty days mail must be returned to sender.

(6) A program participant whose certification is withdrawn may reapply or have an application assistant reapply on the program participant's behalf.

An address confidentiality program participant who is eligible to vote may register to vote as a protected records voter.

(1) A program participant ((shall))may apply for protected records voter status by appearing in person before the appropriate county authorized personnel or requesting ((an))a protected records voter registration application from the address confidentiality program. ((The program participant shall: (a) Cancel any previously existing voter registration; and (b) provide all the information required on the protected records voter registration application.))In order to register as a protected records voter, the applicant must be an address confidentiality program participant, provide their participant authorization number, and provide all of the information required for voter registration under RCW 29A.08.010 and 29A.08.107.

(2) The program participant shall disclose ((to the authorized personnel)) the actual address of her or his residence on the protected records voter application only for the purpose of determining the proper precinct, and taxing districts.

(3) Upon receipt of a protected records voter application, the county election official must confirm with program staff that the applicant is a program participant and confirm that the information required by RCW 29A.08.010 and 29A.08.107 is included on the form.

(a) If the voter registration applicant is not a program participant, the voter registration application may be processed in the same manner as all voter registration applications.

(b) If the information required by RCW 29A.08.010 and 29A.08.107 is not included, the county election office must seek the missing information, using the address confidentiality program substitute mailing address for communication to the protected records voter applicant.

(4) Upon receipt of a properly filled out form, the county election official shall:

(a) Cancel all previously existing voter registration records for the participant;

(b) Process the application as a protected records voter; and