HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1774

                       As Passed House

                       March 19, 1991

Title:  An act relating to the joint select committee on privacy and information technology.

Brief Description:  Creating a joint select committee on privacy and information technology.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Jacobsen, R. Fisher, Anderson, Appelwick, Nelson, Miller, Heavey, Pruitt, Jones, Ebersole, Inslee, Wineberry, Cooper, Rasmussen, Franklin, Roland and Leonard.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Judiciary, March 6, 1991, DP;

Passed House, March 19, 1991, 98-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

JUDICIARY

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 19 members:  Representatives Appelwick, Chair; Ludwig, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Minority Member; Paris, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Belcher; Broback; Forner; Hargrove; Inslee; Locke; R. Meyers; Mielke; H. Myers; Riley; Scott; D. Sommers; Tate; Vance; and Wineberry.

Staff:  Bill Perry (786-7123).

Background:  The state of Washington has a constitutional provision protecting a person's "private affairs."  In addition, statutes such as the state's Privacy Act protect citizens from unauthorized intrusions into their privacy.  On the other hand, government agencies and private businesses collect a myriad of data about peoples' lives.  Technological developments have made it increasingly easy for government and private entities to collect, store, collate and disseminate information about individuals.

Summary of Bill:  A legislative committee is created to review procedures for protecting citizens from invasions of their privacy that may result from collection, processing, use, or sharing of information by government or private entities.

The joint select committee on privacy and information technology consists of two members of each of the four legislative caucuses.  The members are appointed by the speaker of the House and the president of the Senate.

The committee is to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by December 1, 1991.  The committee expires on January 31, 1992.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  A study of privacy issues is long overdue.  Rapidly expanding information banks and networks are increasingly serious threats to privacy.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Jerry Sheehan, American Civil Liberties Union (in favor); Ann Simons, Washington Women United (in favor); Lonnie Johns-Brown, National Organization of Women (in favor); Deborah Senn, Coalition Against Domestic Violence (in favor); Joan Gaumer, The Privacy Fund (in favor); and Pam Davenport, Secretary of State's Office (in favor).