SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1158

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                 Transportation, April 5, 1999

Title:  An act relating to truck, tractor, or trailer intelligent information systems.

Brief Description:  Collecting information from truck, tractor, or trailer intelligent information systems.

Sponsors:  House Committee on State Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Ogden, DeBolt, Cooper, Ericksen and Mielke).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  3/31/99, 4/5/99 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Gardner, Vice Chair; Goings, Vice Chair; Costa, Eide, Finkbeiner, Heavey, Horn, Jacobsen, Johnson, Morton, Oke, Patterson, Sellar, Sheahan, T. Sheldon, Shin and Swecker.

Staff:  Jennifer Ziegler (786-7316)

Background:  Reported By Senate Committee On:

Initiative Measure No. 276.  All public records of state agencies and local governments are open to public inspection and copying, unless a law expressly excludes the public records from public inspection and copying.  This disclosure requirement is liberally construed and any exception is narrowly constructed.

Among other express exclusions, the following public records are not available for inspection and copying by the public:  (1) personal information in files the disclosure of which would violate the right to privacy; (2) certain taxpayer information; (3) certain financial and commercial information supplied by individuals applying for various programs; and (4) residential addresses and residential telephone numbers of public utility customers.

In a few instances information in public records is provided with more extensive protection from public disclosure by being declared confidential or prohibited from being disclosed.  For example, drafts of legislation prepared by the Code Reviser's office are expressly declared to be confidential.

Summary of Bill:  Information obtained by government agencies collected by the use of a motor carrier intelligent transportation system or comparable information equipment is confidential and not subject to public disclosure.  However, the information may be given to other governmental agencies or the owners of the truck, tractor, or trailer from which it was obtained.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The trucking industry is concerned that proprietary information would be made public.  This legislation addresses those concerns.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Larry Pursley, Washington Trucking Association.