SENATE BILL REPORT
SSB 5057
AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 15, 1994
Brief Description: Correcting a double amendment related to exceptions to the right of privacy.
SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators A. Smith, Quigley, McCaslin and Erwin; by request of Law Revision Commission)
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5057 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators A. Smith, Chairman; Ludwig, Vice Chairman; Hargrove, Nelson, Quigley and Roach.
Staff: Susan Carlson (786‑7418)
Hearing Dates: January 20, 1993; January 27, 1993; January 13, 1994
BACKGROUND:
The 1991 Legislature passed two amendments to the Privacy Act. Both amendments excluded certain services from the provisions of the act. These amendments were made without reference to each other.
One amendment provided that using information obtained through 911 or enhanced 911 in order to protect the public would not violate the Privacy Act. Enhanced 911 refers to a 911 telephone service which automatically displays the name and address associated with the incoming telephone call.
The second amendment provided that information obtained and used in certain common carrier services, sometimes called "Caller I.D." services, would not violate the Privacy Act. The second amendment also referred to enhanced 911, but failed to mention 911.
The amendments are not inconsistent with each other; however, they duplicate a reference to enhanced 911.
SUMMARY:
The statute listing exceptions to the Privacy Act is amended. Subsection (a) contains the reference to common carrier services. Subsection (b) contains the reference to 911 and enhanced 911. A duplicate reference to enhanced 911 is stricken.
Appropriation: none
Revenue: none
Fiscal Note: none requested
TESTIMONY FOR:
The bill corrects a double amendment to the Privacy Act.
TESTIMONY AGAINST: None
TESTIFIED: Marjorie Rombauer, Washington Law Revision Commission (pro)