6426-S

AN ACT Relating to public electronic access to government information; adding a new section to chapter 42.17 RCW; creating new sections; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that government information is a strategic resource and needs to be managed as such and that broad public access to nonrestricted public information and records must be guaranteed. The legislature further finds that reengineering government processes along with capitalizing on advancements made in digital technology can build greater efficiencies in government service delivery. The legislature further finds that providing citizen electronic access to presently available public documents will allow increased citizen involvement in state policies and empower citizens to participate in state policy decision making.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. By January 1, 1995, the legislature shall design a program for public electronic access to public legislative documents. Such a program may include on-line access to the legislature's atlas, leglink, and electronic bulletin board systems. The program may also include fax-request services, providing information for the internet system, contracting the provision of documents, and other service delivery options. Documents available in the program shall include, but are not limited to, bills, bill digests, bill reports, legislative reports, legislative meeting schedules, the Revised Code of Washington, the Washington Administrative Code, and attorney general opinions.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The joint legislative systems committee shall provide guidance and advice in performing the duties of section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 42.17 RCW to read as follows:

By January 1, 1995, the public disclosure commission shall design a program for electronic access to public documents filed with the commission. The program may include on-line access to the commission's magic and electronic bulletin board systems, providing information for the internet system, fax-request service, automated telephone service, electronic filing of reports, and other service delivery options. Documents available in the program shall include, but are not limited to, public documents filed with the public disclosure commission, including, but not limited to, commission meeting schedules, financial affairs reports, contribution reports, expenditure reports, and gift reports.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The public information access policy task force is created, with membership to include the office of financial management, the department of information services, the state library, the state law library, the public disclosure commission, the division of archives and records management, the superintendent of public instruction or his or her designee, the executive director of the higher education coordinating board or his or her designee, the legislature, and the information services board. By September 30, 1994, the task force shall develop and report to the legislature a comprehensive information access policy designed to ensure that information collected, created, used, and disseminated by agencies of the state of Washington will be managed, protected, and used effectively and responsibly for the public good. The task force shall include in its recommendations alternative methods to address continuing and future issues of public information content policy. The task force shall cease to exist on June 30, 1995, unless otherwise reauthorized by the legislature.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. By September 30, 1994, the task force shall develop and report to the legislature the design for a program for public electronic access to government information, which shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:

(1) Documents produced by or in the possession of state agencies, in all formats;

(2) Publicly available documents produced by or in the possession of all political subdivisions of the state.

The task force may consider on-line access to electronic bulletin boards; fax-request services; the internet and similar electronic systems; contracting the provision of documents; automated telephone service; the feasibility of providing public access terminals at publicly funded Washington libraries, schools, school districts, and institutions of higher education; the benefit and feasibility of electronic mail systems in public schools to provide increased communication between parents, teachers, and students; and other service delivery options. The task force shall examine and recommend minimum standards for technology compatibility; associated costs including, but not limited to, hardware, software, and delivery costs; training; and alternative funding sources for the program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.