HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                      Olympia, Washington

Bill Analysis      Bill No. HB 2980

Protecting research data                             Hrg Date:  2/4/98

Brief Title

Reps.  D. Schmidt/Scott                              Staff:  Caroleen Dineen

Sponsor                                    Comm. on Govt. Admin.

                                           Phone: 786-7156

BACKGROUND:

Information held by a public agency is generally subject to public disclosure.  Numerous exemptions to the public disclosure requirements are codified in statute.  Some of these exemptions relate to records containing personal information and proprietary business information.  State and local agencies are required to make records not falling within a statutory exemption available for public inspection and copying. 

SUMMARY:

A new exemption is added to the public disclosure requirements.

Research data developed or received by a research university is exempt from public inspection and copying until the data is published or publicly distributed or a patent is issued.  For purposes of the exemption, Aresearch data@ is defined as facts and information collected for a specific purpose and derived from scholarly study, investigation or inquiry.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested.

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