SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 244

BYHouse Committee on Constitution, Elections & Ethics (originally sponsored by Representatives Madsen, Walker, Fisch, May, Holm, Brough and Todd)

Exempting employment applications and employees' and volunteers' names and addresses from public disclosure.

House Committe on Constitution, Elections, & Ethics

Senate Committee on Judiciary

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 24, 1987; April 2, 1987

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Halsan, Vice Chairman; Bottiger, McCaslin, Nelson.

Senate Staff:Jon Carlson (786-7459)

                  April 2, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, APRIL 2, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The state's public records law governing access to the records of public agencies is contained in the public disclosure statutes.  Included among those statutes are provisions requiring agencies to make public records available for public inspection and copying as well as provisions exempting certain information and records from this requirement.

SUMMARY:

The applications and resumes of persons who apply for public employment are available for public inspection and copying.  This also applies to persons who apply for an executive position unless the agency (1) has adopted a policy which requires the agency to prepare a list of applicants from which the final selection is made; and (2) makes that list, along with the applications and resumes, available for public inspection at least five days before the final selection.  The list must contain at least three names, except where fewer than three persons apply for the position.  "Executive positions" are the heads of agencies or positions in which a person regularly directs the work of five or more employees.

The following are also exempt from public inspection and copying:  (1) an agency's records of the residential addresses and telephone numbers of its employees and of persons performing duties as volunteers for the agency; and (2) a public utility's records of the residential addresses and telephone numbers of its customers.

These exemptions do not affect the duty of an agency, under other laws, to disclose or withhold information.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

When a person requests a public agency to disclose the name and address of a vehicle owner, the agency honoring the request is required to send the vehicle owner the name and address of the person requesting disclosure.

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Mark Brown, Washington Federation of State Employees; Steve Olswang, University of Washington; Gordon Culp, University of Washington; Paul Conrad, Allied Daily Newspapers; Peter King, Association of Washington Cities; Mark Allen, Washington State Association of Broadcasters; Fred Saeger, Association of County Officials; Charlie Marsh, Seattle Police Council; Chuck Sauvage, Washington State Common Cause