(1) The commission will respond promptly to requests for disclosure. Email requests will be handled in the same manner as other types of mail received by the commission. Public records requests received by email after regular business hours will be considered received on the next business day. Within five business days of receiving a public records request, the public records officer will respond by doing one or more of the following:

(a) Providing the record;

(b) Providing an internet address and link on the commission's website to the specific records requested (reference RCW 42.56.520);

(c) Acknowledging receipt of the request and providing a reasonable estimate of the time the commission will require to respond to the request; or

(d) Denying the public records request. Responses refusing in whole or in part the inspection of a public record shall include a statement of the specific exemption authorizing withholding of the record (or any part of the record) and a brief explanation of how the exemption applies to the record withheld or to any redactions in records produced.

(2) Additional time to respond to the request may be based upon the need to:

(a) Clarify the intent of the request;

(b) Locate and assemble the information requested;

(c) Notify persons or agencies affected by the request; or

(d) Determine whether any of the information requested is exempt from disclosure and that a denial should be made as to all or part of the request.

(3) In acknowledging receipt of a public records request that is unclear, the public records officer may ask the requestor to clarify what records the requestor is seeking. The public records officer is not obligated to provide further response if the requestor fails to clarify the request.