BILL REQ. #:  Z-0176.4 

Read first time 02/13/09.   Referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs.

     AN ACT Relating to exempting from public disclosure certain records relating to the conflict resolution process of the office of the education ombudsman; and amending RCW 43.06B.040 and 42.56.320.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 43.06B.040 and 2006 c 116 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     The education ombudsman shall treat all matters associated with the conflict resolution process, including the identities of students, complainants, and other individuals from whom information is acquired, as confidential, except as necessary to enable the education ombudsman to perform the duties of the office. Upon receipt of information that by law is confidential or privileged, the ombudsman shall maintain the confidentiality of such information and shall not further disclose or disseminate the information except as provided by applicable state or federal law.

Sec. 2   RCW 42.56.320 and 2005 c 274 s 412 are each amended to read as follows:
     The following ((educational)) information relating to education is exempt from disclosure under this chapter:
     (1) Financial disclosures filed by private vocational schools under chapters 28B.85 and 28C.10 RCW;
     (2) Financial and commercial information supplied by or on behalf of a person, firm, corporation, or entity under chapter 28B.95 RCW relating to the purchase or sale of tuition units and contracts for the purchase of multiple tuition units;
     (3) Individually identifiable information received by the workforce training and education coordinating board for research or evaluation purposes; ((and))
     (4) Except for public records as defined in RCW ((40.14.040)) 40.14.010, any records or documents obtained by a state college, university, library, or archive through or concerning any gift, grant, conveyance, bequest, or devise, the terms of which restrict or regulate public access to those records or documents; and
     (5) All matters in the office of the education ombudsman associated with the conflict resolution process, including the identities of students, complainants, and other individuals from whom information is acquired.