HB 2831 - DIGEST

Declares that "commercial purposes" includes, regardless of physical form or characteristic: All direct marketing or other targeted contact of persons or businesses related to any advertisement, offer, or solicitation for anything of value. Commercial purposes does not include the broadcast or distribution of information to the general public or segments of the general public through the use of any form of news media, whether or not a fee is charged for the service, or the solicitation of votes by or on behalf of a political candidate or in favor of or in opposition to ballot measures.

Provides that a person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor punishable under RCW 9A.20.021 if he or she: (1) Uses a list obtained, either by the person himself or herself or by another person, from any state or local agency for commercial purposes or for any type of solicitation by or on behalf of a nonprofit or charitable organization, and does so knowing that the list came from or was compiled, whether by the person himself or herself or by a third party, from records obtained from a state or local government agency; or

(2) Induces another to violate this act.