Title: An act relating to exempting certain internal control documents from disclosure under the public records act.

Brief Description: Regarding nondisclosure of certain information of gambling commission licensees and tribes with approved gaming compacts.

Sponsors: Senator Delvin.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce, Research & Development: 2/27/07 [DP].

Passed Senate: 3/14/07, 49-0; 2/14/08, 45-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Keiser, Vice Chair; Clements, Ranking Minority Member; Franklin, Hewitt, Holmquist, Murray and Prentice.

Staff: Kathleen Buchli (786-7488)

Background: The Public Disclosure Act mandates the disclosure of public records unless the records fall under a specific exemption. Financial information supplied by or on behalf of a person, firm, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity related to an application for a gambling license is exempt from disclosure.

House-banked card game licensees must annually prepare financial statements covering all financial activities of the licensee's establishment and file these statements with the Gambling Commission (Commission). Tribes operating under compacts for Class III gaming must also submit internal control documents and financial statements to the Commission.

Summary of Engrossed Bill: Internal control documents, independent auditors' reports and financial statements, and supporting documents of licensees and compacting tribes required by the Commission are exempt from public disclosure.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on June 30, 2008.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This bill protects business information from public disclosure. The Gambling Commission has voted to support the bill.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Delvin, prime sponsor.