SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 1002

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

State & Local Government, March 21, 2001

Title:  An act relating to the public inspection and copying of residential addresses or residential phone numbers of public employees or volunteers of public agencies.

Brief Description:  Limiting the public inspection and copying of residential addresses or residential phone numbers of public employees or volunteers of public agencies.

Sponsors:  By Representatives Ruderman, Rockefeller, Santos, Lambert, Darneille, Haigh, McIntire and Hunt.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  3/21/01 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Fairley, Vice Chair; Hale, Haugen, Horn, Kline, McCaslin, Roach, T. Sheldon and Swecker.

Staff:  Aaron Jennings (786‑7445)

Background:  Passed by initiative in 1972, the Public Disclosure Act requires public agencies to provide full access to public records.  An agency provides access by making records available to the public for inspection and copying.  The act states that its provisions are to be liberally construed in favor of disclosure, and all public records are subject to disclosure unless specifically exempt.  A number of records are exempt including the residential addresses and residential telephone numbers of employees or volunteers of a public agency which are held by the agency in personnel records, employment or volunteer rosters, or mailing lists of employees or volunteers.

Summary of Bill:  The residential addresses or phone numbers of a public agency=s employees or volunteers held by any public agency in its personnel records, public employment related records, volunteer rosters, or mailing lists are exempt from public disclosure.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill would clarify the law to protect public employee=s home addresses and phone numbers contained in employment records held by agencies other than the one the employee works for.  The bill protects the privacy of public employees.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Bob Maier, WEA (pro).