BILL REQ. #:  H-1770.1 

Read first time 02/20/2003.   Referred to Committee on State Government.

     AN ACT Relating to identification numbers issued by state agencies; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds that the use of identification numbers by state agencies to identify persons and businesses conducting business with the state is inconsistent across the state. Identification numbers issued by one state agency may not be compatible with identification numbers issued by another state agency for a similar purpose. The office of financial management shall convene an identification number work group to evaluate the feasibility and challenges to creating a centralized process for the issuance of identification numbers by state agencies to persons and businesses that provide services to the state, receive services from the state, file claims with or against the state, receive benefits from the state, enter into contracts with the state, make payments to the state, or otherwise conduct business with the state.
     (2) The identification number work group shall include at least one representative from at least the following state agencies:
     (a) The office of financial management;
     (b) The department of social and health services;
     (c) The department of revenue;
     (d) The department of labor and industries;
     (e) The health care authority;
     (f) The employment security department;
     (g) The higher education coordinating board;
     (h) The department of corrections;
     (i) The department of personnel;
     (j) The department of retirement systems;
     (k) The department of financial institutions;
     (l) The department of licensing;
     (m) The department of health;
     (n) The department of veterans affairs;
     (o) The department of information services;
     (p) The office of superintendent of public instruction;
     (q) The office of the secretary of state;
     (r) The department of community, trade, and economic development;
     (s) The department of fish and wildlife;
     (t) The office of the state auditor; and
     (u) The work force training and education coordinating board.
     (3) The office of financial management shall facilitate and provide staff support to the identification number work group. The identification number work group must examine the following topics:
     (a) The system that each agency uses to issue identification numbers;
     (b) The information associated with each number, including personally identifying information;
     (c) The requirements and procedures provided in state and federal law to protect privacy and to prevent the unauthorized release of information;
     (d) The processes each agency has in place to prevent the unauthorized release of information;
     (e) The processes each agency has in place to lawfully exchange information with other state agencies, local government agencies, the federal government, and other authorized parties;
     (f) The challenges of creating a centralized system;
     (g) The challenges of creating a consistent, centralized process for state agencies to issue identification numbers to persons and businesses that conduct business with the state; and
     (h) The processes necessary to ensure that the information associated with each identification number is only accessible to those persons authorized to have access.
     (4) The identification number work group shall issue a progress report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature no later than January 31, 2004. The report shall include findings and recommendations on the feasibility of creating a centralized identification number system, whether to create such a system and, if so, how to create such a system.
     (5) This section expires December 31, 2004.