BILL REQ. #:  S-0589.2 

Read first time 02/09/11.   Referred to Committee on Economic Development, Trade & Innovation.

     AN ACT Relating to economic development through the establishment of an international contact database; amending RCW 42.56.230; and adding a new section to chapter 43.31 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 43.31 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature finds that knowledge of worldwide business contacts, government contacts, cultural contacts, and international friends is critical to building a solid network of opportunities for developing trade relations for our state.
     (2) The legislature also finds that knowledge of international exchange students who have studied in Washington state institutions of higher education, especially those from key trading partner countries, and knowledge of Washington state students, interns, and citizens working and studying abroad, is critical to the ability of Washington businesses and citizens to establish contacts and networks in the competitive world market.
     (3)(a) The department may develop and maintain a database, to be known as the international contact database, listing, in addition to any other information:
     (i) International business contacts of those people interested in doing business with Washington business;
     (ii) International government contacts, particularly with our key trading partners;
     (iii) Washington students, interns, and citizens working and studying overseas;
     (iv) International students who have studied at Washington educational institutions; and
     (v) Exchange opportunities for Washington residents wishing to participate in education, internships, or technical assistance programs in the areas of agriculture, hydroelectric power, aerospace, computers and technology, academics, medicine, and communications.
     (b) The database may be designed to be used as a resource for Washington citizens, businesses, and other entities seeking contacts in international trade markets overseas.
     (4) The department of agriculture, the governor's office of protocol, the lieutenant governor's office, and the secretary of state may assist the department in designing and developing the database and in obtaining data for inclusion in the database. Four-year educational institutions and their alumni associations are encouraged to maintain data concerning students studying or working abroad, international students attending their institutions, and exchange opportunities available to their students and other citizens, and to make such data freely available to the department for inclusion in the database.
     (5) The information contained in the database may be made available on request for inspection or copying for free or at cost. The department may not distinguish among persons requesting information from the database, though the department may request information from requesters for purposes of monitoring trade contacts and evaluating the uses and effectiveness of the database.
     (6) Any person listed in the database may request in writing that his or her name, address, telephone number, or other identifying information be omitted from the database.
     (7) Nothing in this section prohibits the department from refusing to disclose information exempt from disclosure under RCW 42.56.230.

Sec. 2   RCW 42.56.230 and 2010 c 106 s 102 are each amended to read as follows:
     The following personal information is exempt from public inspection and copying under this chapter:
     (1) Personal information in any files maintained for students in public schools, patients or clients of public institutions or public health agencies, or welfare recipients;
     (2) Personal information in files maintained for employees, appointees, or elected officials of any public agency to the extent that disclosure would violate their right to privacy;
     (3) Information required of any taxpayer in connection with the assessment or collection of any tax if the disclosure of the information to other persons would: (a) Be prohibited to such persons by RCW 84.08.210, 82.32.330, 84.40.020, 84.40.340, or any ordinance authorized under RCW 35.102.145; or (b) violate the taxpayer's right to privacy or result in unfair competitive disadvantage to the taxpayer;
     (4) Credit card numbers, debit card numbers, electronic check numbers, card expiration dates, or bank or other financial account numbers, except when disclosure is expressly required by or governed by other law;
     (5) Personal and financial information related to a small loan or any system of authorizing a small loan in RCW 31.45.093; ((and))
     (6) Documents and related materials and scanned images of documents and related materials used to prove identity, age, residential address, social security number, or other personal information required to apply for a driver's license or identicard; and
     (7) Personal information in files maintained in a database created under section 1 of this act.