House Bill Analysis

SB 5862

Title:  AN ACT Relating to public record protection.

Brief Description:  Protecting records of strategy discussions.

Sponsor:  Senators Gardner and Horn.

Brief Summary

CExempts records that would reveal an agency's position in certain negotiations from public inspection and copying.

House State Government Committee

Staff:  Jim Morishima  (786-7191).

Background:

Initiative 276, approved by the voters in 1972, requires that all state agencies make all public records available for public inspection and copying unless they fall within certain statutory exceptions.  The provisions requiring public records disclosure must be interpreted liberally and the exceptions narrowly in order to effectuate a general policy favoring disclosure. 

Examples of statutory exceptions to the public records disclosure law include i) personal information in agency files, the disclosure of which would violate an individual's right to privacy, ii) financial and commercial information supplied by individuals applying for various programs, and iii) residential addresses and telephone numbers of state agency employees.

Summary:

Records, the disclosure of which would reveal the strategy or position to be taken by an agency during the course of any collective bargaining, professional negotiations, or grievance or mediation proceedings, are exempt from public inspection and copying.

Rule Making Authority: No express authority.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Bill: Ninety days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is enacted.