SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 2792

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Commerce, Trade, Housing & Financial Institutions, February 22, 2000

Title:  An act relating to confidentiality of personal financial information.

Brief Description:  Protecting personal financial information.

Sponsors:  House Committee on State Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Haigh, D. Schmidt, Romero, McDonald, Rockefeller and Hurst; by request of Governor Locke).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Commerce, Trade, Housing & Financial Institutions:  2/17/2000, 2/22/2000 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, TRADE, HOUSING & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Benton, Gardner, Hale, Heavey, Rasmussen, T. Sheldon and Winsley.

Staff:  Susan Jones (786-7784)

Background:  State and local agencies are generally required to allow public inspection and copying of public records.  There are many exemptions to these requirements.  Certain financial information may be provided to state and local agencies for the purposes of electronic transfer of funds or for the purposes of an application for a liquor, gambling, or lottery retailer license.

Summary of Bill:  Credit and debit card numbers, electronic check numbers, card expiration date, or bank or other financial account numbers supplied to an agency for the purposes of electronic transfer of funds, except when expressly provided by law, are exempt from public disclosure and copying.  Financial information and other identification numbers supplied for an application for a liquor, gambling, or lottery retailer license are also exempt.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Public disclosure is important but privacy is also important. The language was narrowly drafted. This bill protects against disclosure of information that could lead to fraud.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Representative Haigh; Dolores Chiechi, Recreational Gaming Association.