HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                      Olympia, Washington

Bill Analysis      Bill No. HB 1504

Protecting records of strategy discussions           Public Hrg: 2/12/97 

Brief Title

Reps. McMorris/Boldt/Honeyford                       Staff Contact: B. Lynch

Sponsor                                    Comm. on Govt. Admin.

                                           Phone: 786-7092

BACKGROUND:

Each state and local agency is required to make all public records available for public inspection and copying unless the record is exempted from disclosure.  The Legislature has enacted a number of such exemptions, including: preliminary drafts, notes, recommendations, and intra-agency memos in which opinions are expressed or policies are formulated, unless the agency publicly cites the document in an agency action; and the contents of real estate appraisals made for the acquisition or sale of property until the sale is abandoned or finalized.

Although strategy sessions pertaining to collective bargaining, professional negotiations, and grievance and mediation proceedings are exempt from the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act, records pertaining to such sessions are not expressly exempt from public inspection and copying under the Public Disclosure Act.

SUMMARY:

Records which would reveal, either directly or indirectly, the strategy or position that the agency will take in collective bargaining, professional negotiations, or grievance or mediation proceedings, are exempt from public inspection and copying.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.