BILL REQ. #: S-4644.1

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SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6496
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State of Washington

58th Legislature

2004 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senators Schmidt and Eide; by request of Administrative Office of the Courts)

READ FIRST TIME 02/06/04.

AN ACT Relating to confidential court records; adding a new section to chapter 2.28 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 2.28 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) No employee of a court, county clerk's office, government agency, the administrative office of the courts, or any other person under contract with any such agency may intentionally access, use, or disclose court records that he or she knows to be confidential, unless authorized.
     (2) A court record is confidential if access to that record is restricted by statute, court order, or court rules.
     (3) For the purposes of this section, "authorized" means access: (a) For the purpose of conducting official court business for a use specifically permitted by employment status; (b) by court order, court rule, or statute for the use specified; or (c) by contractual provision contained in an agreement between the official custodian of the court record and another person or entity, as specified in such agreement.
     (4) Violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor.

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