BILL REQ. #:  H-1693.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/22/13.   

     AN ACT Relating to exempting from disclosure and copying valuable commercial information in records pertaining to solid waste collection companies in possession of the Washington utilities and transportation commission; amending RCW 42.56.330; and adding a new section to chapter 81.77 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 81.77 RCW to read as follows:
     The following records that solid waste collection companies file with the commission under the authority granted by this chapter and chapters 81.04 and 81.16 RCW, and that the commission uses for reviewing the rates of solid waste collection companies, are exempt from disclosure under the public records act, chapter 42.56 RCW:
     (1) Records of activities that are not subject to commission rate regulation; and
     (2) Records of affiliated interests, as defined in RCW 81.16.010.

Sec. 2   RCW 42.56.330 and 2012 c 68 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     The following information relating to public utilities and transportation is exempt from disclosure under this chapter:
     (1) Records filed with the utilities and transportation commission or attorney general under RCW 80.04.095 that a court has determined are confidential under RCW 80.04.095;
     (2) The residential addresses and residential telephone numbers of the customers of a public utility contained in the records or lists held by the public utility of which they are customers, except that this information may be released to the division of child support or the agency or firm providing child support enforcement for another state under Title IV-D of the federal social security act, for the establishment, enforcement, or modification of a support order;
     (3) The names, residential addresses, residential telephone numbers, and other individually identifiable records held by an agency in relation to a vanpool, carpool, or other ride-sharing program or service; however, these records may be disclosed to other persons who apply for ride-matching services and who need that information in order to identify potential riders or drivers with whom to share rides;
     (4) The personally identifying information of current or former participants or applicants in a paratransit or other transit service operated for the benefit of persons with disabilities or elderly persons;
     (5) The personally identifying information of persons who acquire and use transit passes or other fare payment media including, but not limited to, stored value smart cards and magnetic strip cards, except that an agency may disclose personally identifying information to a person, employer, educational institution, or other entity that is responsible, in whole or in part, for payment of the cost of acquiring or using a transit pass or other fare payment media for the purpose of preventing fraud, or to the news media when reporting on public transportation or public safety. As used in this subsection, "personally identifying information" includes acquisition or use information pertaining to a specific, individual transit pass or fare payment media.
     (a) Information regarding the acquisition or use of transit passes or fare payment media may be disclosed in aggregate form if the data does not contain any personally identifying information.
     (b) Personally identifying information may be released to law enforcement agencies if the request is accompanied by a court order;
     (6) Any information obtained by governmental agencies that is collected by the use of a motor carrier intelligent transportation system or any comparable information equipment attached to a truck, tractor, or trailer; however, the information may be given to other governmental agencies or the owners of the truck, tractor, or trailer from which the information is obtained. As used in this subsection, "motor carrier" has the same definition as provided in RCW 81.80.010;
     (7) The personally identifying information of persons who acquire and use transponders or other technology to facilitate payment of tolls. This information may be disclosed in aggregate form as long as the data does not contain any personally identifying information. For these purposes aggregate data may include the census tract of the account holder as long as any individual personally identifying information is not released. Personally identifying information may be released to law enforcement agencies only for toll enforcement purposes. Personally identifying information may be released to law enforcement agencies for other purposes only if the request is accompanied by a court order; ((and))
     (8) The personally identifying information of persons who acquire and use a driver's license or identicard that includes a radio frequency identification chip or similar technology to facilitate border crossing. This information may be disclosed in aggregate form as long as the data does not contain any personally identifying information. Personally identifying information may be released to law enforcement agencies only for United States customs and border protection enforcement purposes. Personally identifying information may be released to law enforcement agencies for other purposes only if the request is accompanied by a court order; and
     (9) Records filed with the utilities and transportation commission by a solid waste collection company in the context of a tariff filing under chapter 81.04, 81.06, or 81.77 RCW, when such documents:
     (a) Concern activities of the solid waste collection company that are not subject to rate regulation by the commission; or
     (b) Are documents of affiliated interests.