WSR 18-01-074
PROPOSED RULES
LAKE WASHINGTON
INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
[Filed December 15, 2017, 7:53 a.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 17-22-043.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Amending chapter 495D-276 WAC relating to access to public records; and adding chapter 495D-142 WAC relating to first amendment activities.
Hearing Location(s): On January 23, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., at Lake Washington Institute of Technology, W305A, 11605 132nd Avenue N.E., Kirkland, WA 98034.
Date of Intended Adoption: February 5, 2018.
Submit Written Comments to: William Thomas, 11605 132nd Avenue N.E., Kirkland, WA 98034, email bill.thomas@lwtech.edu, by January 22, 2018.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact William Thomas, phone 425-739-8201, email bill.thomas@lwtech.edu, by January 19, 2018.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Lake Washington Institute of Technology proposes amending chapter 495-276 WAC to conform such chapter to (1) recent changes in the law concerning public records; (2) model rules recommended by the attorney general's office (chapter 44-14 WAC), and (3) current agency practices. Lake Washington Institute of Technology proposes adding chapter 495D-142 WAC to establish procedures and reasonable controls for the use of facilities by both noncollege and college groups.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: See purpose above.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 28B.50.140(13).
Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 42.56 RCW.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Lake Washington Institute of Technology, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: William Thomas, Lake Washington Institute of Technology, Kirkland, Washington, 425-739-8201; Implementation and Enforcement: Lake Washington Institute of Technology, Kirkland, Washington, 425-739-8201.
A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW 28A.305.135.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. Lake Washington Institute of Technology is not a listed agency in RCW 34.05.328 (5)(a)(i).
This rule proposal, or portions of the proposal, is exempt from requirements of the Regulatory Fairness Act because the proposal:
Is exempt under RCW 19.85.025(3) as the rules relate only to internal governmental operations that are not subject to violation by a nongovernment party; rules are adopting or incorporating by reference without material change federal statutes or regulations, Washington state statutes, rules of other Washington state agencies, shoreline master programs other than those programs governing shorelines of statewide significance, or, as referenced by Washington state law, national consensus codes that generally establish industry standards, if the material adopted or incorporated regulates the same subject matter and conduct as the adopting or incorporating rule; rules only correct typographical errors, make address or name changes, or clarify language of a rule without changing its effect; rule content is explicitly and specifically dictated by statute; and rules set or adjust fees under the authority of RCW 19.02.075 or that set or adjust fees or rates pursuant to legislative standards, including fees set or adjusted under the authority of RCW 19.80.045.
December 15, 2017
Andrea Olson
Special Assistant
to the President
Chapter  495D-142  WAC
FIRST AMENDMENT ACTIVITIES FOR LAKE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NEW SECTION
WAC 495D-142-010 Title.
WAC 495D-142-010 through 495D-142-080 shall be known as use of community and technical College District 26 facilities by college groups and noncollege groups for first amendment activities.
NEW SECTION
WAC 495D-142-015 Definitions.
For the purposes of this policy noncollege groups shall mean individuals, or combinations of individuals, who are not currently enrolled students or current employees of Lake Washington Institute of Technology or who are not officially affiliated or associated with a recognized student organization or a recognized employee group of the college.
For purposes of this policy, college groups shall mean individuals who are currently enrolled students or current employees of Lake Washington Institute of Technology or who are affiliated with a recognized student organization or a recognized employee group of the college.
The college is a limited public forum for noncollege groups. The limited public forum does not include college buildings or parking areas. College buildings, rooms, and parking areas may be rented in accordance with the college's facilities use policy.
NEW SECTION
WAC 495D-142-020 Statement of purpose.
Lake Washington Institute of Technology is an educational institution provided and maintained by the people of the state of Washington. The public character of the college does not grant to individuals an unlimited license to engage in activity which limits, interferes with, or otherwise disrupts the normal activities for and to which the college's buildings, facilities and grounds are dedicated and said buildings, facilities and grounds are not available for unrestricted use by noncollege groups. While said buildings, facilities and grounds are not available for unlimited use by college groups, it is recognized that Lake Washington Institute of Technology students and employees should be accorded opportunity to utilize the facilities and grounds of the college to the fullest extent possible. The purpose of these time, place and manner regulations is to establish procedures and reasonable controls for the use of college facilities for both noncollege and college groups. It is intended to balance the college's responsibility to fulfill its mission as a state educational institution of Washington with the interests of noncollege groups or college groups who are interested in using the campus for purposes of constitutionally protected speech, assembly or expression.
NEW SECTION
WAC 495D-142-030 Request for use of facilities.
Subject to the regulations and requirements of this policy, college or noncollege groups may use the campus limited forums for those activities protected by the first amendment. Examples of first amendment activities would include, but not necessarily be limited to, informational picketing, petition circulation, the distribution of information leaflets or pamphlets, speech-making, demonstrations, rallies, appearances of speakers in outdoor areas, mass protests, meetings to display group feelings or sentiments and/or other types of constitutionally protected assemblies to share information, perspective or viewpoints.
Noncollege groups that intend to be on campus to engage in first amendment activities (hereinafter "the event") are encouraged to provide notice to the campus safety and security department no later than forty-eight hours prior to the event along with the following information:
(1) The name, address, and telephone number of the individual, group, entity or organization sponsoring the event (hereinafter "the sponsoring organization"); and
(2) The name, address, and telephone number of a contact person for the sponsoring organization; and
(3) The date, time, and requested location of the event; and
(4) The nature and purpose of the event; and
(5) The type of sound amplification devices to be used in connection with the event, if any; and
(6) The estimated number of people expected to participate in the event.
However, unscheduled events are permitted so long as the event does not interfere with any other function occurring at the facility. Noncollege events are limited to the grounds outside of college buildings.
The use of sound amplification devices is limited to the limited public forum area as long as the sound amplification device is used at a volume which does not disrupt or disturb the normal use of classrooms, offices or laboratories or any previously scheduled college event or activity.
College groups are encouraged to notify the campus safety and security department no later than forty-eight hours in advance of an event. However, unscheduled events are permitted so long as the event does not interfere with any other function occurring at the facility.
Information may be distributed as long as it is not obscene or libelous or incite imminent lawless action. The sponsoring organization is encouraged, but not required, to include its name and address on the distributed information. To avoid excessive littering of the campus and/or greatly increased work requirements for college physical plant employees, groups are asked to cooperate with the college in limiting the distribution of information leaflets or pamphlets to the limited public forum site.
Speech that does no more than propose a commercial transaction shall not occur in connection with the event.
The limited public forum used by the group should be cleaned up and left in its original condition and may be subject to inspection by a representative of the college after the event. Reasonable charges may be assessed against the sponsoring organization for the costs of extraordinary cleanup or for the repair of damaged property.
All fire, safety, sanitation or special regulations specified for the event are to be obeyed.
The college cannot and will not provide utility connections or hook-ups for purposes of first amendment activities conducted pursuant to this policy.
The event must not obstruct vehicular, bicycle, pedestrian or other traffic or otherwise interfere with ingress or egress to the college, or to college buildings or facilities, or to college activities or events.
The event must not create safety hazards or pose unreasonable safety risks to college students, employees or invitees to the college.
The event must not materially and substantially interfere with educational activities inside or outside any college building or otherwise prevent the college from fulfilling its mission and achieving its primary purpose of providing an education to its students.
The event must not materially infringe on the rights and privileges of college students, employees or invitees to the college.
The event must also be in accordance with any other applicable college policies and regulations, regulations and policies of Lake Washington Institute of Technology, local ordinances and/or state or federal laws.
There shall be no first amendment activities and camping on college facilities or grounds between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Camping is defined to include sleeping, cooking activities, or storing personal belongings, for personal habitation, or the erection of tents or other shelters or structures used for purposes of personal habitation.
NEW SECTION
WAC 495D-142-040 Additional requirements for noncollege groups.
The limited public forum may not be used on the same date as any previously scheduled college event or activity at the site (aside from regularly scheduled classes) where it is reasonably anticipated that more than five hundred people will attend the college event or activity.
NEW SECTION
WAC 495D-142-050 The role of the president in first amendment decisions.
The president of the college or designee may at any time, terminate, cancel or prohibit the event if it is determined, after proper inquiry, that the event does constitute or will constitute a clear and present danger to the college's orderly operation.
NEW SECTION
WAC 495D-142-060 Criminal trespass.
Any person determined to be violating these regulations is subject to an order from the college campus public safety department to leave the college campus. Persons failing to comply with such an order to leave the college campus are subject to arrest for criminal trespass.
NEW SECTION
WAC 495D-142-070 Posting of a bond and hold harmless statement.
When using college buildings or athletic fields, an individual or organization may be required to post a bond and/or obtain insurance to protect the college against cost or other liability in accordance with the college's facility use policy.
When the college grants permission to a college group or noncollege group to use its facilities it is with the express understanding and condition that the individual or organization assumes full responsibility for any loss or damage.
NEW SECTION
WAC 495D-142-080 First amendment activities and protection of the college mission.
The college recognizes and supports the rights of groups and individuals to engage in first amendment activities. This policy shall be interpreted and construed to support such activities while simultaneously balancing the needs and interests of the college to fulfill its mission as a state educational institution of Washington.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 92-15-081, filed 7/16/92, effective 8/16/92)
WAC 495D-276-010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to ensure that College District 26 complies with the provisions of chapter ((42.17)) 42.56 RCW and in particular with those sections of that chapter dealing with public records.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 92-15-081, filed 7/16/92, effective 8/16/92)
WAC 495D-276-020 Definitions.
(1) "Public record" includes any writing containing information relating to the conduct of government or the performance of any governmental or proprietary function prepared, owned, used or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics.
(2) "Writing" means handwriting, typewriting, printing, photostating, photographing, and every other means of recording any form of communication or representation, including, but not limited to, letters, words, pictures, sounds or symbols, combination thereof and all papers, maps, magnetic or paper tapes, photographic films and prints, motion picture, film and video recordings, magnetic or punched cards, disks, drums, diskettes, sound recordings, and other documents including existing data compilations from which information may be obtained or translated.
(3) "College District 26" is an agency organized by statute pursuant to RCW 28B.50.040. College District 26 shall hereafter be referred to as the "((district)) college." Where appropriate, the term "((district)) college" also refers to the staff and employees of the ((district)) college.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 11-19-083, filed 9/20/11, effective 10/21/11)
WAC 495D-276-030 Description of central and field organization of College District 26.
(1) College District 26 is a state agency established and organized under the authority of chapter 28B.50 RCW for the purpose of implementing the educational goals established by the legislature in RCW 28B.50.020. The administrative office of the ((district)) college is located on the Lake Washington Institute of Technology campus within the city of Kirkland, Washington. The Lake Washington Institute of Technology campus likewise comprises the central headquarters for all operations of the ((district)) college.
(2) The ((district)) college is operated under the supervision and control of a board of trustees. The board of trustees consists of five members appointed by the governor. The board of trustees normally meets at least once each month, as provided in WAC 495D-104-010. The board of trustees employs a president, an administrative staff, members of the faculty, and other employees. The board of trustees takes such actions and promulgates such rules and policies in harmony with the rules established by the state board for community and technical colleges, as are necessary to the administration and operation of the ((district)) college.
(3) The president of the ((district)) college is responsible to the board of trustees for the operation and administration of the ((district)) college. A detailed description of the administrative organization of the ((district)) college is contained within the policies and procedures manual for Lake Washington Institute of Technology, a current copy of which is available for inspection at the administrative office of the ((district)) college.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 11-19-083, filed 9/20/11, effective 10/21/11)
WAC 495D-276-040 Operations and procedures.
(1) Formal decision-making procedures are established by the board of trustees through rules promulgated in accordance with the requirements of chapter 34.05 RCW, the Administrative Procedure Act.
(2) Informal decision-making procedures at the college, as established by the board of trustees, are set forth in the policies and procedures manual of Lake Washington Institute of Technology, a current copy of which is available for inspection at the administrative office of the ((district)) college.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 92-15-081, filed 7/16/92, effective 8/16/92)
WAC 495D-276-050 Public records available.
All public records of the ((district)) college, as defined in this chapter, are deemed to be available for public inspection and copying pursuant to these rules, except as otherwise provided by chapter 42.56 RCW ((42.17.310)) or other statutes.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 92-15-081, filed 7/16/92, effective 8/16/92)
WAC 495D-276-060 Public records officer.
((The district's public records shall be in the charge of the public records officer designated by the president. The person so designated shall be located in the district administrative office. The public records officer shall be responsible for the following: Implementation of the district's rules regarding release of public records, coordinating district employees in this regard, and generally ensuring compliance by district employees with the public records disclosure requirements in chapter 42.17 RCW.)) The public records officer will oversee compliance with the act but another college 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 Lake Washington Institute of Technology will provide the "fullest assistance" to requestors; create and maintain for use by the public and college officials an index to public records of Lake Washington Institute of Technology; ensure that public records are protected from damage or disorganization; and prevent fulfilling public records requests from causing excessive interference with essential functions of the Lake Washington Institute of Technology.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 92-15-081, filed 7/16/92, effective 8/16/92)
WAC 495D-276-080 Requests for public records.
In accordance with the requirements of RCW ((42.17.290)) 42.56.100 that agencies prevent unreasonable invasions of privacy, protect public records from damage or disorganization, and prevent excessive interference with essential functions of the agency, public records are only obtainable by members of the public when those members of the public comply with the following procedures:
(((1) A request shall be made in writing. A form prescribed by the district shall be available at the district administrative office. The completed form shall be presented to the public records officer or, if the public records officer is not available, to any member of the district's staff at the district administrative office during customary office hours. The request shall include the following information:
(a) The name of the person requesting the record;
(b) The time of day and calendar date on which the request was made;
(c) The nature of the request;
(d) If the matter requested is referenced within the current index maintained by the public records officer, a reference to the requested record as it is described in such current index;
(e) If the requested matter is not identifiable by reference to the current index, an appropriate description of the record requested.
(2) In all cases in which a member of the public is making a request, it shall be the obligation of the public records officer, or person to whom the request is made, to assist the member of the public in identifying the public record requested.)) (1) Any person wishing to request access to public records of Lake Washington Institute of Technology, or seeking assistance in making such a request should contact the public records officer of the college at:
Public Records Officer
Attn.: Administrative Services
Lake Washington Institute of Technology
11605 132nd Avenue N.E.
Kirkland, WA 98034
425-739-8201
publicrecords@lwtech.edu
(2) A public records request must be for identifiable records. A request for all or substantially all records prepared, owned, used, or retained by the college is not a valid request for identifiable records, provided that a request for all records regarding a particular topic or containing a particular keyword or name shall not be considered a request for all of the college's records.
(3) A request should be made in writing on the Public Records Request form, or by letter, fax, or email addressed to the public records officer. The request should include the following information:
(a) The name of the person requesting the record;
(b) Address of the requestor;
(c) Other contact information, including telephone number and any email address;
(d) The date and time of day of the request;
(e) Identification of the public records adequate for the public records officer or designee to locate the records;
(f) If the matter requested is referenced within the current index maintained by the public records officer, a reference to the requested records as it is described in such current index;
(g) If the requested matter is not identifiable by reference to the current index, an appropriate description of the record requested.
(4) In all cases in which a member of the public is making a request, it shall be the obligation of the public records officer, or person to whom the request is made, to assist the member of the public in identifying the public records requested.
(5) The college may deny a bot request that is one of multiple requests from the requestor to the college within a twenty-four-hour period, if the college establishes that responding to the multiple requests would cause excessive interference with other essential functions of the college. For these purposes, "bot request" means a request for public records that the college reasonably believes was automatically generated by a computer program or script.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 92-15-081, filed 7/16/92, effective 8/16/92)
WAC 495D-276-090 ((Copying.)) Charges for public records.
((No fee shall be charged for the inspection of public records. The district may impose a reasonable charge for providing copies of public records and for the use by any person of agency equipment to copy public records but such charges shall not exceed the amount necessary to reimburse the district for its actual costs incident to such copying. No person shall be released a record so copied until and unless the person requesting the copied public record has tendered payment for such copying to the appropriate district employee. All charges must be paid by money order, cashier's check, or cash in advance.)) (1) Cost. Calculating the actual costs of charges for providing public records is unduly burdensome because it will consume scarce college resources to conduct a study of actual costs, and it is difficult to accurately calculate all costs directly incident to copying records, including equipment and paper costs, data storage costs, electronic production costs, and staff time for copying and sending requested records. Instead of calculating actual costs of charges for records, the college president or designee shall establish, maintain, and make available for public inspection and copying a statement of costs that the college charges for providing photocopies or electronically produced copies of public records, and such charges for records shall not exceed the maximum default charges allowed in RCW 42.56.120 (2)(b). The college may also use any other method authorized by the Public Records Act for imposing charges for public records including, but not limited to, charging a flat fee, charging a customized service charge, or charging based on a contract, memorandum of understanding, or other agreement with a requestor. The college may waive charges assessed for records when the public records officer determines collecting a fee is not cost effective.
(2) Payment. Payment may be made by cash, check, or money order to Lake Washington Institute of Technology. The college may require a deposit in an amount not to exceed ten percent of the estimated cost of providing copies for a request, including a customized service charge. If the college makes a request available on a partial or installment basis, the college may charge for each part of the request as it is provided. If an installment of a records request is not claimed or reviewed, the college is not obligated to fulfill the balance of the request. The college will close a request upon thirty days when a requestor fails by the payment date to pay in the manner prescribed for records, an installment of records, or a required deposit.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 92-15-081, filed 7/16/92, effective 8/16/92)
WAC 495D-276-100 Determination regarding exempt records.
(1) The ((district)) college reserves the right to determine that a public record requested in accordance with the procedures outlined in WAC 495D-276-080 is exempt pursuant to RCW ((42.17.310)) 42.56.210 or other statute. Such determination may be made in consultation with an assistant attorney general assigned to the district.
(2) Pursuant to RCW ((42.17.260)) 42.56.230, the ((district)) college reserves the right to delete identifying details when it makes available or publishes any public record when there is reason to believe that disclosure of such details would be an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy or impair a vital governmental interest: Provided, however, in each case, the justification for the deletion shall be explained fully in writing.
(3) Responses to requests for public records must be made promptly. For the purposes of this section, a prompt response occurs if the person requesting the public record is notified within five business days as to whether his request for a public record will be honored.
(4) Every denial of a request for public records must be accompanied by a written statement, signed by the public records officer or his/her designee, specifying the reason for the denial, a statement of the specific exemption authorizing the withholding of the record, and a brief explanation of how the exemption applies to the public record withheld.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 92-15-081, filed 7/16/92, effective 8/16/92)
WAC 495D-276-110 Review of denials of public records requests.
(((1) Any person who objects to the denial of a request for a public record may petition for prompt review of such decision by tendering a written request for a brief adjudicative proceeding. The written request shall specifically refer to the written statement which constituted or accompanied the denial.
(2) The written request by a person demanding prompt review of a decision denying a public record shall be submitted to the vice president of administrative services, or his or her designee.
(3) Within two business days after receiving the written request by a person petitioning for a prompt review of a decision denying a public record, the vice president, or his or her designee, shall complete such review.
(4) During the course of the review the vice president or his or her designee shall consider the obligations of the district to comply with the intent of chapter 42.17 RCW insofar as it requires providing full public access to official records, but shall also consider the exemptions provided in RCW 42.17.310 or other pertinent statutes, and the provisions of the statute which require the district to protect public records from damage or disorganization, prevent excessive interference with essential functions of the agency, and prevent any unreasonable invasion of personal privacy by deleting identifying details.
(5) The vice president or designee's decision shall be final unless the requisition files a written appeal with the president under RCW 34.05.491.)) (1) Petition for internal administrative review of denial of access. Any person who objects to the denial or partial denial of a records request may petition in writing (including email) 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.
(2) Consideration of petition for review. The public records officer shall promptly provide the petition and any other relevant information to the president or appropriate vice president. That person will immediately consider the petition and either affirm or reverse the denial within two business days following the college's receipt of the petition, or within such other time as mutually agreed upon by the college and the requestor.
(3) Review by the attorney general's office. Pursuant to RCW 42.56.530, if Lake Washington Institute of Technology 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.
(4) Judicial review. Any person may obtain a 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.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 92-15-081, filed 7/16/92, effective 8/16/92)
WAC 495D-276-130 Records index.
(1) The ((district)) college has available for the use of all persons a current index which provides identifying information as to the following records issued, adopted, or promulgated by the ((district)) college after September 1, 1991:
(a) Final opinions, including concurring and dissenting opinions, as well as orders, made in the adjudication of cases;
(b) Those statements of policy and interpretations of policy, statute, and the constitution which have been adopted by the agency;
(c) Administrative staff manuals and instructions to staff that affect a member of the public;
(d) Planning policies and goals, and interim and final planning decisions;
(e) Factual staff reports and studies, factual consultant's reports and studies, scientific reports and studies, and any other factual information derived from tests, studies, reports, or surveys, whether conducted by public employees or others; and
(f) Correspondence, and materials referred to therein, by and with the agency relating to any regulatory, supervisory, or enforcement responsibilities of the agency, whereby the agency determines, or opines upon, or is asked to determine or opine upon, the rights of the state, the public, a subdivision of state government, or any private party.
(2) The current index maintained by the ((district)) college shall be available to all persons under the same rules and on the same conditions as are applied to public records available for inspection.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 92-15-081, filed 7/16/92, effective 8/16/92)
WAC 495D-276-140 Adoption of form.
The ((district)) college shall adopt an appropriate form for use by all persons requesting inspection and/or copying or copies of its records.