Brief Description: Protecting public employee personal information.

Sponsors: By House Committee on State Government Operations & Accountability (originally sponsored by Representatives O'Brien, Lovick, Hankins, Ericks, Holmquist, Darneille, Kirby and Moeller).

House Committee on State Government Operations & Accountability
Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections

Background:

The Public Disclosure Act (PDA) requires that all state and local government agencies make all public records available for public inspection and copying unless they fall within certain statutory exemptions. The provisions requiring public records disclosure must be interpreted liberally and the exceptions narrowly in order to effectuate a general policy favoring disclosure.

The residential addresses and residential telephone numbers of employees or volunteers of a public agency are exempt from public records disclosure when they are held by any public agency in personnel records, public employment related records, volunteer rosters, or mailing lists.

Summary:

The following information exempt from public records disclosure when it is held by any public agency in personnel records, public employment related records, volunteer rosters, or mailing lists:

• personal wireless telephone numbers, personal e-mail addresses, social security numbers, and emergency contact information of employees or volunteers of a public agency; and
• personal wireless telephone numbers, personal e-mail addresses, social security numbers, and emergency contact information of dependents of employees or volunteers of a public agency.

"Employees" includes independent provider home care workers.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   96   0
Senate   49   0

Effective: July 24, 2005