CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

 

                        HOUSE BILL 2402

 

 

                   Chapter 226, Laws of 1998

 

 

 

 

                        55th Legislature

                      1998 Regular Session

 

 

COUNTY CLERK RECORDS--ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTIONS--COPIES

 

 

 

                    EFFECTIVE DATE:  6/11/98

Passed by the House February 10, 1998  Yeas 96   Nays 0

 

 

 

             CLYDE BALLARD

Speaker of the

      House of Representatives

 

Passed by the Senate March 4, 1998

  Yeas 47   Nays 0

             CERTIFICATE

 

I, Timothy A. Martin, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is HOUSE BILL 2402  as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.

 

 

 

               BRAD OWEN

President of the Senate

          TIMOTHY A. MARTIN

                          Chief Clerk

 

 

Approved March 30, 1998 Place Style On Codes above, and Style Off Codes below.    

                                FILED           

 

 

           March 30, 1998 - 3:05 p.m.

 

 

 

              GARY LOCKE

Governor of the State of Washington

                   Secretary of State

                  State of Washington


          _______________________________________________

 

                          HOUSE BILL 2402

          _______________________________________________

 

             Passed Legislature - 1998 Regular Session

 

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1998 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Sheahan, Lambert, Hatfield, Thompson, McDonald and Dunn

 

Read first time 01/13/98.  Referred to Committee on Law & Justice.

Authorizing the use of electronic copies for preservation of court record. 


    AN ACT Relating to the records of the county clerk; and amending RCW 36.23.065 and 36.23.067.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

    Sec. 1.  RCW 36.23.065 and 1981 c 277 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:

    Notwithstanding any other law relating to the destruction of court records, the county clerk may cause to be destroyed all documents, records, instruments, books, papers, depositions, and transcripts, in any action or proceeding in the superior court, or otherwise filed in his or her office pursuant to law, if all of the following conditions exist:

    (1) The county clerk maintains for the use of the public a photographic film, microphotographic, photostatic, electronic, or similar reproduction of each document, record, instrument, book, paper, deposition, or transcript so destroyed:  PROVIDED, That all receipts and canceled checks filed by a personal representative pursuant to RCW 11.76.100 may be removed from the file by order of the court and destroyed the same as an exhibit pursuant to RCW 36.23.070.

     (2) At the time of the taking of ((said)) the photographic film, microphotographic, photostatic, electronic, or similar reproduction, the county clerk or other person under whose direction and control the same was taken, attached thereto, or to the sealed container in which the same was placed and has been kept, or incorporated in ((said)) the photographic film, microphotographic, photostatic, electronic, or similar reproduction, a certification that the copy is a correct copy of the original, or of a specified part thereof, as the case may be, the date on which taken, and the fact it was taken under ((his)) the clerk's direction and control.  The certificate must be under the official seal of the certifying officer, if there be any, or if ((he be)) the certifying officer is the clerk of a court having a seal, under the seal of such court.

     (3) The county clerk promptly seals and stores at least one original or negative of each such photographic film, microphotographic, photostatic, electronic, or similar reproduction in such manner and place as reasonably to assure its preservation indefinitely against loss, theft, defacement, or destruction.  Electronic reproductions are acceptable media for this purpose if one of the following conditions exists:

    (a) The electronic reproductions are continuously updated and, if necessary, transferred to another medium to ensure that they are accessible through contemporary and supported electronic or computerized systems; or

    (b) The electronic reproductions are scheduled to be reproduced on photographic film, microphotographic, photostatic, or similar media for indefinite preservation.

    (4) When copies of public records of the county clerk are transferred to the state archives for security storage, the state archives may only provide certified copies of those records with the written permission of the county clerk who is custodian of those records.  When so transferred and authorized, the copies of the public records concerned shall be made by the state archives, which certification shall have the same force and effect as though made by the county clerk who is custodian of the record.  If there is a statutory fee for the reproduction of the document, contracts can be made between the county clerk and the state archives for reproduction and certification of the copies, however no certification authority may be transferred except as provided in this subsection and for records of abolished or discontinued offices or agencies under chapter 40.14 RCW.

 

    Sec. 2.  RCW 36.23.067 and 1963 c 4 s 36.23.067 are each amended to read as follows:

    Any print, whether enlarged or not, from any photographic film, including any photographic plate, microphotographic film, or photostatic negative or similar reproduction, or from any electronic record, of any original record, document, instrument, book, paper, deposition, or transcript which has been processed in accordance with the provisions of RCW 36.23.065, and has been certified by the county clerk under his or her official seal as a true copy, may be used in all instances, including introduction in evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding, that the original record, document, instrument, book, paper, deposition, or transcript might have been used, and shall have the full force and effect of ((said)) the original for all purposes.


    Passed the House February 10, 1998.

    Passed the Senate March 4, 1998.

Approved by the Governor March 30, 1998.

    Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 30, 1998.