SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6615

              As Passed Senate, February 10, 1996

Title:  An act relating to protection of certain business information.

Brief Description:  Protecting certain business information.

Sponsors:  Senators Hale, Sheldon and Haugen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  1/31/96, 2/1/96 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/10/96, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Sheldon, Vice Chair; Goings, Hale, Heavey, McCaslin and Winsley.

Staff:  Rod McAulay (786-7754)

Background:  The Administrative Procedure Act requires state agencies to maintain a rule-making file for each rule it proposes or adopts. This file must contain a variety of information including citations to data, factual information, studies, or reports on which the agency relies, unless such data, factual information, studies or reports are gathered under the Regulatory Fairness Act for preparation of a small business economic impact statement and can be identified to a particular business.  This exemption does not apply to data, factual information, studies or reports which can be identified to a particular business, which are gathered under the special procedures for adoption of significant legislative rules, and which could result in public disclosure of proprietary information.

Summary of Bill:  The rule of confidentiality pertaining to certain proprietary information obtained by a state agency is extended.  An agency rule-making file is not required to include data, factual information, studies or reports which can be identified to a particular business and which are gathered pursuant to the special procedures for adoption of significant legislative rules.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  No one.