Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
State Government Committee

HB 2453

Brief Description:  Protecting veterans' records.

Sponsors:  Representatives Bush, Haigh, Schmidt, Simpson, Conway, Reardon, Mielke, Wood, Talcott, Miloscia, Cairnes, McIntire, Campbell, Orcutt, Pflug, Cooper, Nixon, Jackley, Ahern, Rockefeller, Van Luven, Esser, Ogden and Woods.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Exempts veteran discharge papers from public records disclosure.

Hearing Date:  1/31/02

Staff:  Marsha Reilly (786‑7135).

Background:

Each state and local agency is required under the Open Public Records Act to make all public records available for public inspection and copying unless the record is exempted from disclosure.  Examples of records exempted in statute include:

$personal information on students in public schools, patients or clients of public institutions or public health agencies, or welfare recipients;

$information revealing the identity of persons who are witnesses to or victims of crime;

$test questions, scoring keys, and other examination data used to administer a licence, employment, or academic examination;

$financial and valuable trade information;

$credit card numbers, debit card numbers, electronic check numbers, card expiration dates; or bank or other financial account numbers supplied to an agency for the purpose of electronic transfer of funds.

Summary of Bill:

The discharge papers of a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States filed at county auditor offices are exempted from release to the public, with the exception of the express written authorization of the veteran.

Rulemaking Authority:  No express authority.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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