FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5049

                           C 33 L 97

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Providing vehicle owners' names and addresses to commercial parking companies.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Wood, Prentice, Horn, Brown, Prince and Haugen).

Senate Committee on Transportation

House Committee on Transportation Policy & Budget

Background: Commercial parking companies have access to Department of Licensing (DOL) records to identify the owners of automobiles who use their parking lots without providing sufficient payment.  Currently, these records are provided to the parking companies on printed forms.

The public disclosure law prohibits agencies from providing access to lists of individuals for commercial purposes, unless specifically authorized or directed by law.  Although the law does authorize the disclosure of the names and addresses of vehicle owners for commercial purposes, it prescribes the manner of production.  Under those procedures, DOL currently prohibits the disclosure of this information electronically (for example, magnetic tape) to commercial parking companies except when said companies are acting on behalf of a municipality or other governmental entity.

During the 1996 session, the Legislature unanimously passed legislation identical to SB 5049.  However, Governor Lowry vetoed that legislation in the hopes that a more comprehensive policy governing the commercial use of public records might be developed.  To facilitate this goal, the Governor established a joint Executive-Legislative Work Group on Commercial Access to Government Electronic Records.  The work group issued its final report in November, which includes recommendations for administrative and legislative action.  The primary focus of the recommendations is to advance the legitimate use of government-held information for the benefit of the state and the public while protecting personally identifying information and other data from inappropriate or unwarranted dissemination or intrusion.  In January of 1997, the Governor issued Executive Order 97-01, which instructs state agencies to adhere to a model contract for the release of information for commercial purposes.

Summary:  Subject to the disclosure agreement provisions of RCW 46.12.380 and the requirements of Executive Order 97-01, the Department of Licensing is permitted to furnish lists of registered owners electronically to commercial parking companies.  If a registered owner list is used by a commercial parking company for any purpose other than notification of outstanding parking violations, DOL must deny further access to such information.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 26 22

House     97 0

Effective:  July 27, 1997