SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    HB 1774

                              AS OF APRIL 4, 1991

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

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

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Staff:  Ben Barnes (786‑7465)

Hearing Dates:April 4, 1991

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:

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.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested April 4, 1991