(1) The secretary of state's general duties are set forth in chapter 43.07 RCW, and relate generally to elections, the formation and maintenance of business organizations, charitable solicitations, charitable trusts, registration of domestic partnerships, archives and records management, the state library, the productivity board, the address confidentiality program, legacy Washington, and the combined fund drive. Additional functions include regulating the use of the state seal, filing or attesting to official acts of the legislature or governor, certifying to the legislature all matters legally required to be certified, issues apostilles, and other actions required or authorized by law. In addition to these constitutional and statutory duties, the secretary of state is frequently called upon to represent the state of Washington in international trade and cultural missions, and to greet and confer with dignitaries and delegations visiting the state of Washington from other countries.

(2) The functions of the secretary of state are performed through the following divisions and programs:

(a) The elections division, through which the secretary acts as the state's chief election officer;

(b) The corporations division, through which the secretary accepts filings as provided by law related to profit and nonprofit corporations and other forms of business organization, accepts registrations pursuant to the Charitable Solicitations Act and the Charitable Trust Act, accepts filings and issues licenses related to digital signatures, accepts registrations of domestic partnerships, and issues apostilles and trademarks;

(c) The archives and records management division, through which the secretary provides services as required by law related to archives and records management;

(d) The Washington state library, providing library services to the public and state government and related services;

(e) The special programs division, which includes:

(i) The productivity board, which the secretary chairs and whose staff provides organizational support and which provides awards and incentives related to state employee brainstorm and teamwork incentive programs;

(ii) The address confidentiality program, for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking;

(iii) Legacy Washington, which conducts, publishes and preserves oral histories of significant figures in Washington history; and

(iv) The combined fund drive, Washington state's workplace giving program for active and retired public employees.

(3) The offices of the secretary of state and their staff are located at:

(a) Main Administrative Office, Legislative Building, 416 Sid Snyder Way, P.O. Box 40220, Olympia, WA 98504-0220;

(b) Elections Division, 520 Union Ave. S.E., P.O. Box 40229, Olympia, WA 98504-0229;

(c) Corporations Division, 801 Capitol Way South, P.O. Box 40234, Olympia, WA 98504-0234;

(d) Archives and Records Management Division, 1129 Washington Street S.E., P.O. Box 40238, Olympia, WA 98504-0238. The archives and records management division also includes:

(i) The State Records Center, located at 7590 New Market Street S.W., Tumwater, WA, mailing address: P.O. Box 40239, Olympia, WA 98504-0239;

(ii) Archives Regional facilities:

(A) Southwest Regional Branch, located at 1129 Washington Street S.E., P.O. Box 40238, Olympia, WA 98504-0238;

(B) Puget Sound Regional Branch, located at 3000 Landerholm Circle S.E., MS-N100, Bellevue, WA 98007-6484;

(C) Northwest Regional Branch, located at Western Washington University, MS-9123, Bellingham, WA 98225-9123;

(D) Central Regional Branch, located at 400 E. University Way, Mail Stop 7547, Ellensburg, WA 98926-7547; and

(iii) The Washington State Digital Archives, and Eastern Washington Regional Branch, located at 960 Washington Street, Cheney, WA 99004;

(e) The Washington State Library, Point Plaza East, 6880 Capitol Blvd. S.E., Tumwater, P.O. Box 42460, Olympia, WA 98504-2460;

(f) The Productivity Board, The Address Confidentiality Program, and Legacy Washington, Legislative Building, P.O. Box 40220, Olympia, WA 98504-0220.

(4) Any person wishing to request access to public records of the office of the secretary of state, or seeking assistance in making such a request, should contact the public records officer by mail at P.O. Box 40224, Olympia, WA 98504-0224, or by fax at 360-704-7830, or by email at Publicrecords@sos.wa.gov. Information is also available at the secretary of state's website, at www.sos.wa.gov.

(5) The public records officer will oversee compliance with the act but another secretary of state staff member may process the request. Therefore, these rules will refer to the public records officer "or designee." The public records officer or designee and the office of the secretary of state will provide the fullest assistance to the requestor; create and maintain for use by the public and the office of the secretary of state an index to public records of the office by making available those records retention schedules applicable to the office of the secretary of state; and prevent fulfilling public records requests from causing excessive interference with essential functions of the office.