(1) The purpose of chapter 390-14 WAC is to establish the commission's procedures to provide full access to its public records and to implement the provisions of the Public Records Act under chapter 42.56 RCW for the commission.

(2) The commission implements and enforces chapter 42.17A RCW, the laws governing campaign finance, lobbying, reporting by public treasurers, and personal financial affairs disclosures. A description of the commission organization, general operations and procedures is under chapter 390-12 WAC. More information is located on its web site at www.pdc.wa.gov. The commission does not implement or enforce the Public Records Act for other public agencies.

(3) If you wish to obtain general information or copies of records, you do not need to submit a formal public records request. You will often find such information on the commission's web site, or you may make an informal routine inquiry by contacting the commission office.

(a) The commission is a disclosure agency. The commission is required to operate a web site. Therefore, the commission routinely places numerous categories of records on its web site. You are strongly encouraged to review the web site prior to making a public records request. The web site provides records and other information that can be viewed at no cost, including: The agency's organizational chart; contact information; statutes; rules and rule-making activity; final orders; enforcement case information and records; declaratory orders; interpretive statements; external policies; manuals; fact books; brochures; videos; commission meeting agendas, materials, and minutes; strategic plans; reports; campaign finance data, reports, and forms; lobbying data, reports and forms; other forms and reports; news releases; and, filer information. Information on the web site is updated regularly.

(b) You may also contact the commission office to make an informal routine inquiry for a record.

(i) For example, informal routine inquiries generally seek a particular form, brochure, manual, report, lobbyist directory, or other similar readily available record specifically filed or created for the public under chapter 42.17A RCW and they can often be responded to on the same or next business day by providing the record. Informal routine inquiries do not seek a record that includes any exempt information, require any clarification, require providing records in installments, or require a search of different types of agency records or records sent to storage. In addition, informal routine inquiries do not provide any fair notice that the inquiry is a formal public records request submitted under the Public Records Act under chapter 42.56 RCW.

(ii) If your informal routine inquiry concerns a record or information on the commission's web site, agency staff may direct you to its online location.

(iii) Informal routine inquiries are not subject to the time periods or other procedures in the Public Records Act.

(4) If you want to make a formal request for a record under the Public Records Act, see WAC 390-14-025.