BILL REQ. #:  S-0044.2 



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SENATE BILL 5515
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State of Washington60th Legislature2007 Regular Session

By Senators Stevens, Holmquist, Benton, Swecker, Roach and Delvin

Read first time 01/23/2007.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.



     AN ACT Relating to prohibiting county assessors from publicizing real property owners' personal information; adding a new section to chapter 36.21 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   It is the intent of the legislature to limit the amount of information that is made public in property assessments in order to protect property owners from being the victims of crime. Currently, property assessment information has included photographs that have contained pictures of property owners' children, vehicles with license plate numbers, and other related personal information. In order to prevent property owners from being potential victims of crime, this type of information must not be made public.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 36.21 RCW to read as follows:
     When assessing the value of real property, the county assessor or agents of the assessor shall not publicize any personal information related to the property owner that is not in relation to the assessment of the property. Personal information includes, but is not limited to, the following:
     (1) Pictures of children, automobiles, pets, alarm systems, or floor plans; and
     (2) Information contained in print or picture that may assist a person in committing a crime.

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