SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 324

BYHouse Committee on Constitution, Elections & Ethics (originally sponsored by Representatives Fisher, Madsen, Vekich, Pruitt and Fisch)

Revising public disclosure exemptions.

House Committe on Constitution, Elections & Ethics

Senate Committee on Judiciary

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 19, 1987; March 31, 1987

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Talmadge, Chairman; Halsan, Vice Chairman; McCaslin, Nelson, Newhouse.

Senate Staff:Jon Carlson (786-7459)

                  March 31, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 31, 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:

Exceptions are established to the provisions of law requiring public agencies to permit public inspection and copying of public records.  Exempted from those requirements is proprietary information supplied by a business when the business requests confidentiality for certain reasons and the agency having custody finds that the information is of a type which businesses normally keep confidential in order to compete effectively in the market place.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

Exempted from disclosure is financial and commercial information submitted by a business to the Department of Trade and Economic Development or the Department of Community Development when applying for certain loans or services.

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Paul Conrad, Allied Daily Newspapers; Jean Ameluxen, Department of Community Development; Jerry Ellis, Department of Trade and Economic Development