FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5064

                          C 215 L 99

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Protecting certain public transportation information.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen, Horn, Gardner, Benton, Long, Costa, B. Sheldon, Swecker, Patterson, Jacobsen, Shin, Oke, Morton, Eide, Spanel, Johnson, Goings, Sellar, Fraser, Thibaudeau, Franklin, Winsley, Rasmussen and McAuliffe).

Senate Committee on Transportation

House Committee on State Government

Background:  Each state and local agency is required to make all public records available for public inspection and copying unless the record is exempt from disclosure.  The Legislature has enacted a number of such exemptions, including residential addresses and phone numbers of employees or volunteers of a public agency, and the residential addresses and phone numbers of public utility customers.

Current law provides an exemption for the names or other personally identifiable information maintained by public transit agencies regarding persons who participate in vanpool, carpool, or other ride-sharing programs or services.  However, there is no express exemption provided for such information maintained by agencies regarding transit pass purchasers or persons who participate in paratransit services.

Summary:  The names and other personally identifiable information maintained by public transit agencies regarding persons who participate in public transportation programs administered by the agency are exempt from public inspection and copying.  Persons whose information is protected include (1) users of paratransit services, and (2) transit pass purchasers.

Personally identifying information of persons who acquire and use transit passes and other fare payment media, such as smart cards and magnetic strip cards, may be disclosed to (1) those responsible for payment of the transit passes, (2) the news media when reporting on public transportation or safety, and (3) governmental agencies or groups concerned with public transportation or safety.

Public entities and private entities under the public-private transportation initiatives that provide transit, ferry service, toll facilities or other transportation services may only use personal information obtained from the use of electronic toll payments, transit passes or other fare media for billing purposes and not to track individuals= use of the facilities or services.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 45 0

House     93 0 (House amended)

Senate    44 0 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  July 25, 1999