SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5924

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Government Operations & Elections, March 4, 2003

Title: An act relating to laboratory records.

Brief Description: Concerning the release of certain laboratory records.

Sponsors: Senators Roach, Kastama, Regala and Hale; by request of Washington State Patrol.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 3/4/03 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Roach, Chair; Stevens, Vice Chair; Fairley, Horn, Kastama, McCaslin and Reardon.

Staff: Mac Nicholson (786-7445)

Background: The Washington State Toxicology Laboratory performs drug and alcohol testing for coroners, medical examiners, law enforcement agencies, prosecuting attorneys, and the State Liquor Control Board. Requests for records related to toxicology testing can currently be made to the Toxicology Laboratory or to the agency that submitted the material for analysis.

Summary of Bill: Requests for records related to testing performed on deceased individuals in death investigations and on living suspects in impaired driving cases must be made to the agency that submitted the material for analysis.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: Public records requests should be made to the agency giving the material to the toxicology lab rather than to the lab itself.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: PRO: Glenn Cramer, WSP.