SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5641

As of February 6, 2001

Title:  An act relating to limiting disclosure of personal information about school employees.

Brief Description:  Limiting disclosure of personal information about school employees.

Sponsors:  Senators McAuliffe, B. Sheldon, Kohl‑Welles, Shin and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  2/7/01.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Staff:  Kelly Simpson (786‑7403)

Background:  Current law generally requires all agencies, both state and local, to ?make available for public inspection and copying all public records@ unless a specific provision of law exempts the record from disclosure.  The law contains numerous statutory exemptions from public disclosure.  These exemptions include, for example, (1) personal information of public employees pertaining to an employee's ?right to privacy@; (2) certain investigative records compiled by law enforcement agencies; (3) applications for public employment; and (4) residential addresses and telephone numbers of public employees.

Currently, the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education maintain records, such as certification and investigation files, containing information regarding school employees not employed by these agencies.  These records include residential addresses and telephone numbers.  A recent informal memorandum from the Attorney General's Office indicates that this type of information might be subject to disclosure.

Summary of Bill:  Personal information implicating a right to privacy, and residential addresses and telephone numbers, of employees, officials, or volunteers of a school district are exempt from public disclosure when the information is held by either (1) a school district; (2) an educational service district; (3) the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; or (4) the State Board of Education.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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