S-4024

AN ACT Relating to personnel files; amending RCW 49.12.005, 49.12.250, and 49.12.260; repealing RCW 49.12.240; and prescribing penalties.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 49.12.005 and 1998 c 334 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

For the purposes of this chapter:

(1) The term "department" means the department of labor and industries.

(2) The term "director" means the director of the department of labor and industries, or the director's designated representative.

(3) The term "employer" means any person, firm, corporation, partnership, business trust, legal representative, or other business entity which engages in any business, industry, profession, or activity in this state and employs one or more employees and for the purposes of RCW 49.12.270 through 49.12.295 and 49.12.450 also includes the state, any state institution, any state agency, political subdivisions of the state, and any municipal corporation or quasi-municipal corporation.

(4) The term "employee" means an employee who is employed in the business of the employee's employer whether by way of manual labor or otherwise.

(5) The term "conditions of labor" shall mean and include the conditions of rest and meal periods for employees including provisions for personal privacy, practices, methods and means by or through which labor or services are performed by employees and includes bona fide physical qualifications in employment, but shall not include conditions of labor otherwise governed by statutes and rules and regulations relating to industrial safety and health administered by the department.

(6) The term "temporary services agency" means any individual or entity that is engaged in the business of furnishing individuals to perform services on a part-time or temporary basis for a third party.

(7) The term "personnel files" means records kept by an employer, in any form, that are used or have been used to determine the employee's qualification for employment, promotion, additional compensation, or employment termination, or other disciplinary action.

(8) For the purpose of chapter 16, Laws of 1973 2nd ex. sess. a minor is defined to be a person of either sex under the age of eighteen years.

Sec. 2. RCW 49.12.250 and 1985 c 336 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) If an employer keeps a personnel file on an employee, the employer shall, at least annually, upon the request of that employee, permit that employee to inspect and copy without charges, except a reasonable copying charge, any or all of his or her own personnel file(s). These file(s) shall be retained by the employer for a minimum of three years after the employee ceases work for that employer.

(2) Each employer shall make such file(s) available locally within ((~~a reasonable period of time~~)) fifteen business days after the employee requests the file(s).

((~~(2)~~)) (3) An employee annually may petition that the employer review all information in the employee's personnel file(s) that are regularly maintained by the employer as a part of his business records or are subject to reference for information given to persons outside of the company. The employer shall determine if there is any irrelevant or erroneous information in the file(s), and shall remove all such information from the file(s). If an employee does not agree with the employer's determination, the employee may at his or her request have placed in the employee's personnel file a statement containing the employee's rebuttal or correction. Nothing in this subsection prevents the employer from removing information more frequently.

((~~(3)~~)) (4) A former employee shall retain the right of rebuttal or correction ((~~for a period not to exceed two years~~)).

(5) Individuals performing personal services for, or for the benefit of, a third party pursuant to a contract with a temporary services agency shall be, for the purposes of this section and RCW 49.12.050, employees of both the temporary services agency and the third party.

(6) The director shall assess any employer found to be in violation of this section, or rules or orders adopted or issued pursuant to this section, a civil penalty of not less than five hundred dollars a day for each violation. Each and every violation shall be a separate and distinct offense, and in case of a continuing violation, every day's continuance shall be a separate and distinct violation. Any penalty amount set in excess of five thousand dollars shall be set by the director in consideration of any previous history of violations by the violator.

(7) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, an employee whose request to inspect and copy personnel files has been denied in violation of this section may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to recover damages for the violation in the amount of five thousand dollars. The court shall award reasonable attorney fees to a prevailing plaintiff.

(8) A criminal action need not be brought against an employer for that employer to be civilly liable under this section.

Sec. 3. RCW 49.12.260 and 1985 c 336 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

RCW ((~~49.12.240 and~~)) 49.12.250 ((do)) does not apply to the records of an employee relating to the investigation of a possible criminal offense. RCW ((~~49.12.240 and~~)) 49.12.250 ((do)) does not apply to information or records compiled in preparation for an impending lawsuit which would not be available to another party under the rules of pretrial discovery for causes pending in the superior courts.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. RCW 49.12.240 (Employee inspection of personnel file) and 1985 c 336 s 1 are each repealed.