Title: An act relating to the public disclosure of information regarding civil confinement facilities.

Brief Description: Regarding public disclosure of civil confinement facility information.

Sponsors: Senators McAuliffe, Stevens, Brandland, Carrell, Regala and Delvin; by request of Department of Social and Health Services.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Human Services & Corrections:1/22/08, 1/24/08 [DP].

Passed Senate: 2/18/08, 45-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Regala, Vice Chair; Stevens, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Carrell and Marr.

Staff: Jennifer Strus (786-7316)

Background: The public disclosure law exempts from disclosure portions of records containing specific and unique vulnerability assessments of emergency and escape plans at a city, county, or state juvenile correctional facility. To be exempt, the disclosure must pose a substantial likelihood that the safety of the correctional facility or any individual would be threatened.

Summary of Bill: Records containing specific and unique vulnerability assessments of emergency and escape plans at the Special Commitment Center (SCC) are exempt from public disclosure as long as the disclosure of these records would pose a substantial likelihood that, if disclosed, the safety of the correctional facility or any individual would be threatened.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: As the census at the SCC continues to grow, DSHS became concerned that publicly divulging SCC's security management plans would pose a risk in safely operating the facility. This bill just closes a loophole in the public disclosure law.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Henry Richards, SCC, Department of Social and Health Services.