S-3421.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6522

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington   57th Legislature        2002 Regular Session

By Senators Kline, McCaslin, Kastama, Eide and Winsley

Read first time 01/21/2002.  Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

Providing immunity for communications with government agencies and self-regulatory organizations.

    AN ACT Relating to communications with government branches or agencies and self-regulatory organizations; and amending RCW 4.24.510.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 4.24.510 and 1999 c 54 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    A person who ((in good faith)) communicates a complaint or information to any branch or 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 or organization.  A person prevailing upon the defense provided for in this section ((shall be)) is entitled to recover ((costs)) expenses and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred in establishing the defense and in addition shall receive statutory damages of ten thousand dollars.  Statutory damages may be denied if the court finds that the complaint or information was communicated in bad faith.

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