S-1962.2  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5928

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State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senator Prentice)

Read first time 03/03/99.

Extending immunity from liability to those who communicate a complaint or information to self-regulatory agencies.  

    AN ACT Relating to good faith communications to self-regulatory organizations delegated authority by government agencies; and amending RCW 4.24.510.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 4.24.510 and 1989 c 234 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    A person who in good faith communicates a complaint or information to any agency of federal, state, or local government, or to any self-regulatory organization that regulates persons involved in the securities or futures business and that has been delegated authority by a federal, state, or local government agency and is subject to oversight by the delegating agency, is immune from civil liability for claims based upon the communication to the agency or organization regarding any matter reasonably of concern to that agency ((shall be immune from civil liability on claims based upon the communication to the agency)) or organization.  A person prevailing upon the defense provided for in this section shall be entitled to recover costs and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred in establishing the defense.

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