FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1497

                         C 326 L 95

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Facilitating electronic access to public records.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Representatives B. Thomas and Dyer).

House Committee on Government Operations

Senate Committee on Energy, Telecommunications & Utilities

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:  Public records are required to be preserved, stored, transferred, destroyed or disposed of, and managed in accordance with provisions of law.

The state archivist manages a division of archives and records management in the Office of the Secretary of State to insure the proper management and safeguarding of public records.  The state archivist adopts rules for: (1) setting standards for the durability and permanence of state and local public records; and (2) establishing procedures to create, maintain, transmit, and reproduce photographic, optical, electronic, or other images used as public documents.

Summary:  The state archivist is required to:

oAdopt rules for cataloging, indexing, and storing photographic, optical, electronic, and other images of public records;

oAdopt rules facilitating access to photographic, optical, electronic, and other images used as public records; and

oAssist and train state and local agencies in the proper methods of creating, maintaining, cataloging, indexing, transmitting, storing, and reproducing photographic, optical, electronic, and other images used as public records.

Votes on Final Passage:

House     95 1

Senate    48 0 (Senate amended)

House    96 0 (House concurred)

Effective:  July 23, 1995