(1) Petition for internal administrative review of denial of access. Any requestor who objects to any denial of a records request may petition in writing to the public records officer for a review of that decision. The petition shall include a copy of, or reasonably identify, the written statement by the public records officer or designee denying the request.
(a) The public records officer shall promptly provide the petition and any other relevant information to the agency official designated by the director to conduct the review.
(b) The agency official will immediately consider the petition and either affirm or reverse the denial within two business days following the agency's receipt of the petition, or within such other time as the agency and the requestor mutually agree to.
(2)
Review by the attorney general's office. Pursuant to RCW
42.56.530, if the agency denies a requestor access to public records because it claims the record is exempt in whole or in part from disclosure, the requestor may request the attorney general's office to review the matter. The attorney general has adopted rules on such requests in WAC
44-06-160.
(3)
Judicial review. Any person may obtain court review of denials of public records requests pursuant to RCW
42.56.550 at the conclusion of two business days after the initial denial regardless of any internal administrative appeal.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter
42.56 RCW. WSR 20-02-005, § 374-20-090, filed 12/18/19, effective 1/18/20. Statutory Authority: RCW
42.17.250. WSR 90-14-019 (Order 90-4), § 374-20-090, filed 6/27/90, effective 7/28/90.]