FINAL BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 1245

                         C 150 L 99

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Exempting certain financial and proprietary information from public disclosure.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on State Government (Originally sponsored by Representatives Morris, Dunn and Rockefeller; by request of Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development).

House Committee on State Government

Senate Committee on State & Local Government

Background:

The open public records law was approved by state voters in 1972 as part of Initiative Measure No. 276.  All public records of state agencies and local governments are open to public inspection and copying, unless a law expressly excludes the public records from public inspection and copying.  This disclosure requirement is liberally construed, and any exception is narrowly constructed.

Among other express exclusions, the following public records are not available for inspection and copying by the public: (1) personal information in files, the disclosure of which would violate the right to privacy; (2) certain taxpayer information; (3) certain financial and commercial information supplied by individuals applying for various programs; and (4) residential addresses and residential telephone numbers of public utility customers.

Summary:

Financial and proprietary information, and information on siting businesses, that is supplied by businesses seeking to site or expand their businesses in the state shall not be disclosed to the public by the office of the Governor or the department of  Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED).  However, the public may inspect information on siting the business once a siting decision has been made, or if there is  no written contact between the business and the CTED for a period of 60 days.

Votes on Final Passage:

House980

Senate452

Effective:July 25, 1999