BILL REQ. #:  H-3338.6 



_____________________________________________ 

HOUSE BILL 2630
_____________________________________________
State of Washington58th Legislature2004 Regular Session

By Representatives Anderson, Armstrong, Benson and Tom

Read first time 01/19/2004.   Referred to Committee on Financial Institutions & Insurance.



     AN ACT Relating to the public oversight and fiduciary accountability of the state investment board; amending RCW 43.33A.020, 43.33A.025, 43.33A.035, 43.33A.060, 43.33A.070, 43.33A.090, 43.33A.100, 43.33A.120, 43.33A.140, 43.33A.150, 43.33A.160, 43.33A.180, and 43.33A.200; reenacting and amending RCW 42.17.310 and 42.17.310; adding new sections to chapter 43.33A RCW; creating new sections; repealing RCW 43.33A.210; prescribing penalties; providing an effective date; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds, declares, and determines that public confidence in the responsible management and fiduciary oversight of all public pension funds under the authority of the state investment board is best served by an open and accountable process.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.33A RCW to read as follows:
     There is hereby created an audit and accountability committee of the state investment board consisting of the state treasurer, the two members of the senate appointed to the board under RCW 43.33A.020(6), and the two members of the house of representatives appointed to the board under RCW 43.33A.020(5). The state treasurer is the chair of the committee.

Sec. 3   RCW 43.33A.020 and 2002 c 303 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     There is hereby created the state investment board to consist of ((fifteen)) eighteen members to be appointed as provided in this section.
     (1) ((One member who is an)) Two members who are active members of the public employees' retirement system and ((has)) have been ((an)) active members for at least five years. ((This member)) One member shall represent state government employees and one member shall represent local government employees. These members shall be appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the senate, from a list of nominations submitted by organizations representing active members of the system. The initial term of appointment shall be one year.
     (2) One member who is an active member of the law enforcement officers' and fire fighters' retirement system and has been an active member for at least five years. This member shall be appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the senate, from a list of nominations submitted by organizations representing active members of the system. The initial term of appointment shall be two years.
     (3) One member who is an active member of the teachers' retirement system and has been an active member for at least five years. This member shall be appointed by the superintendent of public instruction subject to confirmation by the senate. The initial term of appointment shall be three years.
     (4) The state treasurer or the assistant state treasurer if designated by the state treasurer.
     (5) ((A member of the state house of representatives. This member shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
     (6) A member of the state senate. This member shall be appointed by the president of the senate.
)) Two members of the house of representatives, with one being a member of the majority party appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, and the other being a member of the minority party appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives.
     (6) Two members of the senate, with one being a member of the majority party appointed by the president of the senate, and the other being a member of the minority party appointed by the minority leader of the senate.

     (7) One member who is a retired member of a state retirement system shall be appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the senate. The initial term of appointment shall be three years.
     (8) The director of the department of labor and industries.
     (9) The director of the department of retirement systems.
     (10) One member who is an active member of the school employees' retirement system and has at least five years of service credit. This member shall be appointed by the superintendent of public instruction subject to confirmation by the senate. The initial term of appointment shall be three years.
     (11) Five nonvoting members appointed by the state investment board who are considered experienced and qualified in the field of investments.
     The legislative members shall serve terms of two years. The initial legislative members appointed to the board shall be appointed no sooner than January 10, 1983. The position of a legislative member on the board shall become vacant at the end of that member's term on the board or whenever the member ceases to be a member of the senate or house of representatives from which the member was appointed.
     After the initial term of appointment, all other members of the state investment board, except ex officio members, shall serve terms of three years and shall hold office until successors are appointed. Members' terms, except for ex officio members, shall commence on January 1 of the year in which the appointments are made.
     Members may be reappointed for additional terms. Appointments for vacancies shall be made for the unexpired terms in the same manner as the original appointments. Any member may be removed from the board for cause by the member's respective appointing authority or by a vote of sixty percent of the members of the audit and accountability committee recommending removal.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 43.33A RCW to read as follows:
     The state investment board is prohibited from any direct or indirect equity or debt participation or holding in any investment services provider, securities dealer or brokerage firm, or any type of domestic or foreign investment partnership, that invests pension funds on behalf of the state investment board or receives fees for services rendered to the board.

Sec. 5   RCW 43.33A.025 and 2000 c 188 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Notwithstanding any provision of RCW 43.43.700 through 43.43.815, the state investment board shall require a criminal history record check for conviction records through the Washington state patrol criminal identification system, and through the federal bureau of investigation, as well as a check for records of disciplinary actions or investigations by the federal securities and exchange commission, for the purpose of conducting preemployment evaluations of each finalist candidate for a board staff position exempt from the provisions of chapter 41.06 RCW, or for any other position in which the employee will have authority for or access to: (a) Funds under the jurisdiction or responsibility of the investment board; or (b) data or security systems of the investment board or designs for such systems. The record check shall include a fingerprint check using a complete Washington state criminal identification fingerprint card, which shall be forwarded by the state patrol to the federal bureau of investigation.
     (2) Information received by the investment board pursuant to this section shall be made available by the investment board only to board employees involved in the selection, hiring, background investigation, or job assignment of the person who is the subject of the record check, or to that subject person, and it shall be used only for the purposes of making, supporting, or defending decisions regarding the appointment or hiring of persons for these positions, or securing any necessary bonds or other requirements for such employment. Otherwise, the reports, and information contained therein, shall remain confidential and shall not be subject to the disclosure requirements of chapter 42.17 RCW.
     (3) Fees charged by the Washington state patrol, ((or)) the federal bureau of investigation, the securities and exchange commission, or any other law enforcement entity for conducting these investigations and providing these reports shall be paid by the investment board.

Sec. 6   RCW 43.33A.035 and 1997 c 161 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     The board or its executive director, at the direction of the board, may delegate by contract to private sector or other external advisors or managers the discretionary authority, as fiduciaries, to purchase or otherwise acquire, sell, or otherwise dispose of or manage investments or investment properties on behalf of the board, subject to investment or management criteria established by the board ((or its executive director)). Such criteria relevant to particular investments or class of investment applicable under the board's contract with an advisor or manager must be ((incorporated by reference into)) explicitly stated in the contract.

Sec. 7   RCW 43.33A.060 and 1981 c 3 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) No member during the term of appointment may be employed by any investment brokerage or mortgage servicing firm doing business with the state investment board. A trust department of a commercial bank or trust company organized under federal or state law is not considered a mortgage servicing firm for purposes of this section.
     (2) The board is prohibited from conducting business with any former board member or former board employee for a period of two years following the cessation of membership or employment with the board.

Sec. 8   RCW 43.33A.070 and 1981 c 3 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     No member of the state investment board is liable for the negligence, default, or failure of any ((other person or)) other member of the board to perform the duties of the member's office and no member of the board shall be considered or held to be an insurer of the funds or assets of any of the trust and retirement funds nor is any nonvoting member liable for actions performed with the exercise of reasonable diligence within the scope of the member's authorized activities as a member of the board. A member of the state investment board is subject to civil liability only if he or she knowingly engages in malfeasance.

Sec. 9   RCW 43.33A.090 and 1981 c 3 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:
     The state investment board shall keep a full and complete public record of its proceedings in appropriate books of record and shall electronically record all of its proceedings. The willful alteration or destruction of any of the public records required under this section constitutes a class B felony, if the alteration or destruction is done with the intent to hinder or obstruct actual or potential legal proceedings or legislative inquiry. Within sixty days of July 1, 1981, the state investment board shall assume physical custody of all investment accounts, files, and other records of each fund placed under the investment authority of the board.

Sec. 10   RCW 43.33A.100 and 2001 c 302 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     The state investment board shall maintain appropriate offices and employ such personnel as may be necessary to perform its duties. Employment by the investment board shall include but not be limited to an executive director, investment officers, and a confidential secretary, which positions are exempt from classified service under chapter 41.06 RCW. Employment of the executive director by the board shall be for a term of three years, and such employment shall be subject to confirmation by the senate pursuant to the recommendation of the state finance committee: PROVIDED, That nothing shall prevent the board from dismissing the director for cause before the expiration of the term nor shall anything prohibit the board, with the confirmation of the state finance committee, from employing the same individual as director in succeeding terms. Compensation levels for the executive director, a confidential secretary, and all investment officers, including the deputy director for investment management, employed by the investment board shall be established by the state investment board. The investment board is authorized to maintain a retention pool, from the earnings of the funds managed by the board, in order to address recruitment and retention problems. The compensation levels for investment officers shall be limited to the average of state funds of similar size, based upon a biennial survey conducted by the investment board, with review and comment by the joint legislative audit and review committee. However, in any fiscal year the salary increases granted by the investment board from the retention pool to investment officers pursuant to this section may not exceed an average of five percent.
     The investment board shall provide notice to the director of the department of personnel, the director of financial management, and the chairs of the house of representatives and senate fiscal committees of proposed changes to the compensation levels for the positions. The notice shall be provided not less than sixty days prior to the effective date of the proposed changes.
     As of July 1, 1981, all employees classified under chapter 41.06 RCW and engaged in duties assumed by the state investment board on July 1, 1981, are assigned to the state investment board. The transfer shall not diminish any rights granted these employees under chapter 41.06 RCW nor exempt the employees from any action which may occur thereafter in accordance with chapter 41.06 RCW.
     All existing contracts and obligations pertaining to the functions transferred to the state investment board in this 1980 act shall remain in full force and effect, and shall be performed by the board. None of the transfers directed by this 1980 act shall affect the validity of any act performed by a state entity or by any official or employee thereof prior to July 1, 1981.

Sec. 11   RCW 43.33A.120 and 1981 c 3 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) All accounts, files, and other records of the state investment board which pertain to each retirement system are subject at any time or from time to time to such reasonable periodic, special, or other examinations by the department of retirement systems as the director of the department of retirement systems deems necessary or appropriate.
     (2) All accounts, files, and other records of the state investment board are subject at any time to examination by the state auditor, who shall be allowed free access to these records in order to conduct examinations.
     (3) Beginning in 2004, and every six years thereafter, the joint legislative audit and review committee shall conduct a performance review of the board's business operations and comparative financial performance, subject to the oversight of the board's audit and accountability committee. Reimbursement for the performance review shall be made from the board to the joint legislative audit and review committee. The joint legislative audit and review committee shall report the findings of each performance review to the appropriate legislative committees, the ranking members of each party in the senate and the house of representatives, the state auditor, and the governor.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 12   The joint legislative audit and review committee, in conjunction with the state auditor, shall conduct a net asset value audit of the state investment board private equity portfolio and provide a written report on the findings of the audit to the appropriate legislative committees and the governor by September 30, 2004. This audit shall be funded by the state investment board.

Sec. 13   RCW 43.33A.140 and 1998 c 14 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     The state investment board shall invest and manage the assets entrusted to it with reasonable care, skill, prudence, and diligence under circumstances then prevailing which a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an activity of like character and purpose.
     The board shall:
     (1) Consider investments not in isolation, but in the context of the investment of the particular fund as a whole and as part of an overall investment strategy, which should incorporate risk and return objectives reasonably suited for that fund; ((and))
     (2) Diversify the investments of the particular fund unless, because of special circumstances that are formally noted in the board's records, the board reasonably determines that the purposes of that fund are better served without diversifying. However, no corporate fixed-income issue or common stock holding may exceed three percent of the cost or six percent of the market value of the assets of that fund; and
     (3) Not allow investments in private equity funds to exceed ten percent of the investment portfolio managed by the board
.

Sec. 14   RCW 43.33A.150 and 1989 c 179 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The state investment board shall prepare written reports at least quarterly summarizing both the investment activities of the ((state investment)) board and the fees paid to the vendors of services provided to the board, which reports shall be sent to the governor, the senate ways and means committee, the house appropriations committee, the department of retirement systems, and other agencies having a direct financial interest in the investment of funds by the board, and to other persons on written request. The state investment board shall provide information to the department of retirement systems necessary for the preparation of monthly reports.
     (2) At least annually, the board shall report on the board's investment activities and on the fees paid to the vendors of services provided to the board for the department of labor and industries' accident, medical aid, and reserve funds to the senate financial institutions and insurance committee, the senate economic development and labor committee, and the house commerce and labor committee, or appropriate successor committees.

Sec. 15   RCW 43.33A.160 and 1991 sp.s. c 13 s 32 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The state investment board shall be funded from the earnings of the funds managed by the state investment board, proportional to the value of the assets of each fund, subject to legislative appropriation.
     (2) There is established in the state treasury a state investment board expense account from which shall be paid the operating expenses of the state investment board. Prior to November 1 of each even-numbered year, the state investment board shall determine and certify to the state treasurer and the office of financial management the accounting book value and the market cash value of the various funds managed by the investment board in order to determine the proportional liability of the funds for the operating expenses of the state investment board. Pursuant to appropriation, the state treasurer is authorized to transfer such moneys from the various funds managed by the investment board to the state investment board expense account as are necessary to pay the operating expenses of the investment board.

Sec. 16   RCW 43.33A.180 and 1992 c 232 s 905 are each amended to read as follows:
     The state investment board shall account for and report on the investments authorized by this chapter in the manner prescribed by the state treasurer in coordination with the office of financial management ((under chapter 43.88 RCW)).
     After approval of the director of financial management, all positions, reports, documents, and office equipment along with any appropriation necessary for carrying out the functions and duties transferred shall, on July 1, 1992, be transferred from the state treasurer's office to the state investment board. All employees assigned to such classified positions to be transferred, are assigned, without any loss of rights, to the state investment board.

Sec. 17   RCW 43.33A.200 and 1997 c 359 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The board is authorized to create corporations under Title 23B RCW, limited liability companies under chapter 25.15 RCW, and limited partnerships under chapter 25.10 RCW((, of which it may or may not be the general partner,)) for the purposes of transferring, acquiring, holding, overseeing, operating, or disposing of real estate or other investment assets that are not publicly traded on a daily basis or on an organized exchange. The liability of each entity created by the board is limited to the assets or properties of that entity. No creditor or other person, other than the state of Washington, has any right of action against ((the board,)) an entity created by the board under this section or its members or employees((, or the state of Washington)) on account of any debts, obligations, or liabilities of the entity. Entities created under this section may be authorized by the board to make any investment that the board may make, including but not limited to the acquisition of: Equity interests in operating companies, the indebtedness of operating companies, and real estate.
     (2) Directors, officers, and other principals of entities created under this section must be board members((, board staff,)) or principals or direct employees of an advisor or manager that may be engaged by contract by the board ((or the entity to manage real estate or other investment assets of the entity)). Directors of entities created under this section must be appointed by a two-thirds majority vote of the board. Officers and other ((principals)) employees of entities created under this section ((are)) shall be appointed by the directors of the state entity.
     (3) A public corporation, limited liability company, or limited partnership created under this section has the same immunity or exemption from taxation as that of the state. The entity shall pay an amount equal to the amounts that would be paid for taxes otherwise levied upon real property and personal property to the public official charged with the collection of such real property and personal property taxes as if the property were in private ownership. The proceeds of such payments must be allocated as though the property were in private ownership.

Sec. 18   RCW 42.17.310 and 2003 1st sp.s. c 26 s 926, 2003 c 277 s 3, and 2003 c 124 s 1 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) The following are exempt from public inspection and copying:
     (a) Personal information in any files maintained for students in public schools, patients or clients of public institutions or public health agencies, or welfare recipients.
     (b) Personal information in files maintained for employees, appointees, or elected officials of any public agency to the extent that disclosure would violate their right to privacy.
     (c) Information required of any taxpayer in connection with the assessment or collection of any tax if the disclosure of the information to other persons would (i) be prohibited to such persons by RCW 84.08.210, 82.32.330, 84.40.020, or 84.40.340 or (ii) violate the taxpayer's right to privacy or result in unfair competitive disadvantage to the taxpayer.
     (d) Specific intelligence information and specific investigative records compiled by investigative, law enforcement, and penology agencies, and state agencies vested with the responsibility to discipline members of any profession, the nondisclosure of which is essential to effective law enforcement or for the protection of any person's right to privacy.
     (e) Information revealing the identity of persons who are witnesses to or victims of crime or who file complaints with investigative, law enforcement, or penology agencies, other than the public disclosure commission, if disclosure would endanger any person's life, physical safety, or property. If at the time a complaint is filed the complainant, victim or witness indicates a desire for disclosure or nondisclosure, such desire shall govern. However, all complaints filed with the public disclosure commission about any elected official or candidate for public office must be made in writing and signed by the complainant under oath.
     (f) Test questions, scoring keys, and other examination data used to administer a license, employment, or academic examination.
     (g) Except as provided by chapter 8.26 RCW, the contents of real estate appraisals, made for or by any agency relative to the acquisition or sale of property, until the project or prospective sale is abandoned or until such time as all of the property has been acquired or the property to which the sale appraisal relates is sold, but in no event shall disclosure be denied for more than three years after the appraisal.
     (h) Valuable formulae, designs, drawings, computer source code or object code, and research data obtained by any agency within five years of the request for disclosure when disclosure would produce private gain and public loss.
     (i) Preliminary drafts, notes, recommendations, and intra-agency memorandums in which opinions are expressed or policies formulated or recommended except that a specific record shall not be exempt when publicly cited by an agency in connection with any agency action.
     (j) Records which are relevant to a controversy to which an agency is a party but which records would not be available to another party under the rules of pretrial discovery for causes pending in the superior courts.
     (k) Records, maps, or other information identifying the location of archaeological sites in order to avoid the looting or depredation of such sites.
     (l) Any library record, the primary purpose of which is to maintain control of library materials, or to gain access to information, which discloses or could be used to disclose the identity of a library user.
     (m) Financial information supplied by or on behalf of a person, firm, or corporation for the purpose of qualifying to submit a bid or proposal for (i) a ferry system construction or repair contract as required by RCW 47.60.680 through 47.60.750 or (ii) highway construction or improvement as required by RCW 47.28.070.
     (n) Railroad company contracts filed prior to July 28, 1991, with the utilities and transportation commission under RCW 81.34.070, except that the summaries of the contracts are open to public inspection and copying as otherwise provided by this chapter.
     (o) Financial and commercial information and records supplied by private persons pertaining to export services provided pursuant to chapter 43.163 RCW and chapter 53.31 RCW, and by persons pertaining to export projects pursuant to RCW 43.23.035.
     (p) Financial disclosures filed by private vocational schools under chapters 28B.85 and 28C.10 RCW.
     (q) Records filed with the utilities and transportation commission or attorney general under RCW 80.04.095 that a court has determined are confidential under RCW 80.04.095.
     (r) Financial and commercial information and records supplied by businesses or individuals during application for loans or program services provided by chapters 43.163, 43.160, 43.330, and 43.168 RCW, or during application for economic development loans or program services provided by any local agency.
     (s) Membership lists or lists of members or owners of interests of units in timeshare projects, subdivisions, camping resorts, condominiums, land developments, or common-interest communities affiliated with such projects, regulated by the department of licensing, in the files or possession of the department.
     (t) All applications for public employment, including the names of applicants, resumes, and other related materials submitted with respect to an applicant.
     (u) The residential addresses or residential telephone numbers of employees or volunteers of a public agency which are held by any public agency in personnel records, public employment related records, or volunteer rosters, or are included in any mailing list of employees or volunteers of any public agency.
     (v) The residential addresses and residential telephone numbers of the customers of a public utility contained in the records or lists held by the public utility of which they are customers, except that this information may be released to the division of child support or the agency or firm providing child support enforcement for another state under Title IV-D of the federal social security act, for the establishment, enforcement, or modification of a support order.
     (w)(i) The federal social security number of individuals governed under chapter 18.130 RCW maintained in the files of the department of health, except this exemption does not apply to requests made directly to the department from federal, state, and local agencies of government, and national and state licensing, credentialing, investigatory, disciplinary, and examination organizations; (ii) the current residential address and current residential telephone number of a health care provider governed under chapter 18.130 RCW maintained in the files of the department, if the provider requests that this information be withheld from public inspection and copying, and provides to the department an accurate alternate or business address and business telephone number. On or after January 1, 1995, the current residential address and residential telephone number of a health care provider governed under RCW 18.130.040 maintained in the files of the department shall automatically be withheld from public inspection and copying unless the provider specifically requests the information be released, and except as provided for under RCW 42.17.260(9).
     (x) Information obtained by the board of pharmacy as provided in RCW 69.45.090.
     (y) Information obtained by the board of pharmacy or the department of health and its representatives as provided in RCW 69.41.044, 69.41.280, and 18.64.420.
     (z) Financial information, business plans, examination reports, and any information produced or obtained in evaluating or examining a business and industrial development corporation organized or seeking certification under chapter 31.24 RCW.
     (aa) Financial and commercial information supplied to the state investment board by any person for two years after the date the information was supplied when the information relates to the investment of public trust or retirement funds and when disclosure would result in a material loss to such funds ((or in private loss to the providers of this information)).
     (bb) Financial and valuable trade information under RCW 51.36.120.
     (cc) Client records maintained by an agency that is a domestic violence program as defined in RCW 70.123.020 or 70.123.075 or a rape crisis center as defined in RCW 70.125.030.
     (dd) Information that identifies a person who, while an agency employee: (i) Seeks advice, under an informal process established by the employing agency, in order to ascertain his or her rights in connection with a possible unfair practice under chapter 49.60 RCW against the person; and (ii) requests his or her identity or any identifying information not be disclosed.
     (ee) Investigative records compiled by an employing agency conducting a current investigation of a possible unfair practice under chapter 49.60 RCW or of a possible violation of other federal, state, or local laws prohibiting discrimination in employment.
     (ff) Business related information protected from public inspection and copying under RCW 15.86.110.
     (gg) Financial, commercial, operations, and technical and research information and data submitted to or obtained by the clean Washington center in applications for, or delivery of, program services under chapter 70.95H RCW.
     (hh) Information and documents created specifically for, and collected and maintained by a quality improvement committee pursuant to RCW 43.70.510 or 70.41.200, or by a peer review committee under RCW 4.24.250, regardless of which agency is in possession of the information and documents.
     (ii) Personal information in files maintained in a data base created under RCW 43.07.360.
     (jj) Financial and commercial information requested by the public stadium authority from any person or organization that leases or uses the stadium and exhibition center as defined in RCW 36.102.010.
     (kk) Names of individuals residing in emergency or transitional housing that are furnished to the department of revenue or a county assessor in order to substantiate a claim for property tax exemption under RCW 84.36.043.
     (ll) The names, residential addresses, residential telephone numbers, and other individually identifiable records held by an agency in relation to a vanpool, carpool, or other ride-sharing program or service. However, these records may be disclosed to other persons who apply for ride-matching services and who need that information in order to identify potential riders or drivers with whom to share rides.
     (mm) The personally identifying information of current or former participants or applicants in a paratransit or other transit service operated for the benefit of persons with disabilities or elderly persons.
     (nn) The personally identifying information of persons who acquire and use transit passes and other fare payment media including, but not limited to, stored value smart cards and magnetic strip cards, except that an agency may disclose this information to a person, employer, educational institution, or other entity that is responsible, in whole or in part, for payment of the cost of acquiring or using a transit pass or other fare payment media, or to the news media when reporting on public transportation or public safety. This information may also be disclosed at the agency's discretion to governmental agencies or groups concerned with public transportation or public safety.
     (oo) Proprietary financial and commercial information that the submitting entity, with review by the department of health, specifically identifies at the time it is submitted and that is provided to or obtained by the department of health in connection with an application for, or the supervision of, an antitrust exemption sought by the submitting entity under RCW 43.72.310. If a request for such information is received, the submitting entity must be notified of the request. Within ten business days of receipt of the notice, the submitting entity shall provide a written statement of the continuing need for confidentiality, which shall be provided to the requester. Upon receipt of such notice, the department of health shall continue to treat information designated under this section as exempt from disclosure. If the requester initiates an action to compel disclosure under this chapter, the submitting entity must be joined as a party to demonstrate the continuing need for confidentiality.
     (pp) Records maintained by the board of industrial insurance appeals that are related to appeals of crime victims' compensation claims filed with the board under RCW 7.68.110.
     (qq) Financial and commercial information supplied by or on behalf of a person, firm, corporation, or entity under chapter 28B.95 RCW relating to the purchase or sale of tuition units and contracts for the purchase of multiple tuition units.
     (rr) Any records of investigative reports prepared by any state, county, municipal, or other law enforcement agency pertaining to sex offenses contained in chapter 9A.44 RCW or sexually violent offenses as defined in RCW 71.09.020, which have been transferred to the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs for permanent electronic retention and retrieval pursuant to RCW 40.14.070(2)(b).
     (ss) Credit card numbers, debit card numbers, electronic check numbers, card expiration dates, or bank or other financial account numbers, except when disclosure is expressly required by or governed by other law.
     (tt) Financial information, including but not limited to account numbers and values, and other identification numbers supplied by or on behalf of a person, firm, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity related to an application for a liquor license, gambling license, or lottery retail license.
     (uu) Records maintained by the employment security department and subject to chapter 50.13 RCW if provided to another individual or organization for operational, research, or evaluation purposes.
     (vv) Individually identifiable information received by the work force training and education coordinating board for research or evaluation purposes.
     (ww) Those portions of records assembled, prepared, or maintained to prevent, mitigate, or respond to criminal terrorist acts, which are acts that significantly disrupt the conduct of government or of the general civilian population of the state or the United States and that manifest an extreme indifference to human life, the public disclosure of which would have a substantial likelihood of threatening public safety, consisting of:
     (i) Specific and unique vulnerability assessments or specific and unique response or deployment plans, including compiled underlying data collected in preparation of or essential to the assessments, or to the response or deployment plans; and
     (ii) Records not subject to public disclosure under federal law that are shared by federal or international agencies, and information prepared from national security briefings provided to state or local government officials related to domestic preparedness for acts of terrorism.
     (xx) Commercial fishing catch data from logbooks required to be provided to the department of fish and wildlife under RCW 77.12.047, when the data identifies specific catch location, timing, or methodology and the release of which would result in unfair competitive disadvantage to the commercial fisher providing the catch data. However, this information may be released to government agencies concerned with the management of fish and wildlife resources.
     (yy) Sensitive wildlife data obtained by the department of fish and wildlife. However, sensitive wildlife data may be released to government agencies concerned with the management of fish and wildlife resources. Sensitive wildlife data includes:
     (i) The nesting sites or specific locations of endangered species designated under RCW 77.12.020, or threatened or sensitive species classified by rule of the department of fish and wildlife;
     (ii) Radio frequencies used in, or locational data generated by, telemetry studies; or
     (iii) Other location data that could compromise the viability of a specific fish or wildlife population, and where at least one of the following criteria are met:
     (A) The species has a known commercial or black market value;
     (B) There is a history of malicious take of that species; or
     (C) There is a known demand to visit, take, or disturb, and the species behavior or ecology renders it especially vulnerable or the species has an extremely limited distribution and concentration.
     (zz) The personally identifying information of persons who acquire recreational licenses under RCW 77.32.010 or commercial licenses under chapter 77.65 or 77.70 RCW, except name, address of contact used by the department, and type of license, endorsement, or tag. However, the department of fish and wildlife may disclose personally identifying information to:
     (i) Government agencies concerned with the management of fish and wildlife resources;
     (ii) The department of social and health services, child support division, and to the department of licensing in order to implement RCW 77.32.014 and 46.20.291; and
     (iii) Law enforcement agencies for the purpose of firearm possession enforcement under RCW 9.41.040.
     (aaa)(i) Discharge papers of a veteran of the armed forces of the United States filed at the office of the county auditor before July 1, 2002, that have not been commingled with other recorded documents. These records will be available only to the veteran, the veteran's next of kin, a deceased veteran's properly appointed personal representative or executor, a person holding that veteran's general power of attorney, or to anyone else designated in writing by that veteran to receive the records.
     (ii) Discharge papers of a veteran of the armed forces of the United States filed at the office of the county auditor before July 1, 2002, that have been commingled with other records, if the veteran has recorded a "request for exemption from public disclosure of discharge papers" with the county auditor. If such a request has been recorded, these records may be released only to the veteran filing the papers, the veteran's next of kin, a deceased veteran's properly appointed personal representative or executor, a person holding the veteran's general power of attorney, or anyone else designated in writing by the veteran to receive the records.
     (iii) Discharge papers of a veteran filed at the office of the county auditor after June 30, 2002, are not public records, but will be available only to the veteran, the veteran's next of kin, a deceased veteran's properly appointed personal representative or executor, a person holding the veteran's general power of attorney, or anyone else designated in writing by the veteran to receive the records.
     (iv) For the purposes of this subsection (1)(aaa), next of kin of deceased veterans have the same rights to full access to the record. Next of kin are the veteran's widow or widower who has not remarried, son, daughter, father, mother, brother, and sister.
     (bbb) Those portions of records containing specific and unique vulnerability assessments or specific and unique emergency and escape response plans at a city, county, or state adult or juvenile correctional facility, the public disclosure of which would have a substantial likelihood of threatening the security of a city, county, or state adult or juvenile correctional facility or any individual's safety.
     (ccc) Information compiled by school districts or schools in the development of their comprehensive safe school plans pursuant to RCW 28A.320.125, to the extent that they identify specific vulnerabilities of school districts and each individual school.
     (ddd) Information regarding the infrastructure and security of computer and telecommunications networks, consisting of security passwords, security access codes and programs, access codes for secure software applications, security and service recovery plans, security risk assessments, and security test results to the extent that they identify specific system vulnerabilities.
     (eee) Information obtained and exempted or withheld from public inspection by the health care authority under RCW 41.05.026, whether retained by the authority, transferred to another state purchased health care program by the authority, or transferred by the authority to a technical review committee created to facilitate the development, acquisition, or implementation of state purchased health care under chapter 41.05 RCW.
     (fff) Proprietary data, trade secrets, or other information that relates to: (i) A vendor's unique methods of conducting business; (ii) data unique to the product or services of the vendor; or (iii) determining prices or rates to be charged for services, submitted by any vendor to the department of social and health services for purposes of the development, acquisition, or implementation of state purchased health care as defined in RCW 41.05.011.
     (ggg) Proprietary information deemed confidential for the purposes of section 923, chapter 26, Laws of 2003 1st sp. sess.
     (2) Except for information described in subsection (1)(c)(i) of this section and confidential income data exempted from public inspection pursuant to RCW 84.40.020, the exemptions of this section are inapplicable to the extent that information, the disclosure of which would violate personal privacy or vital governmental interests, can be deleted from the specific records sought. No exemption may be construed to permit the nondisclosure of statistical information not descriptive of any readily identifiable person or persons.
     (3) Inspection or copying of any specific records exempt under the provisions of this section may be permitted if the superior court in the county in which the record is maintained finds, after a hearing with notice thereof to every person in interest and the agency, that the exemption of such records is clearly unnecessary to protect any individual's right of privacy or any vital governmental function.
     (4) Agency responses refusing, in whole or in part, inspection of any public record shall include a statement of the specific exemption authorizing the withholding of the record (or part) and a brief explanation of how the exemption applies to the record withheld.

Sec. 19   RCW 42.17.310 and 2003 c 277 s 3 and 2003 c 124 s 1 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) The following are exempt from public inspection and copying:
     (a) Personal information in any files maintained for students in public schools, patients or clients of public institutions or public health agencies, or welfare recipients.
     (b) Personal information in files maintained for employees, appointees, or elected officials of any public agency to the extent that disclosure would violate their right to privacy.
     (c) Information required of any taxpayer in connection with the assessment or collection of any tax if the disclosure of the information to other persons would (i) be prohibited to such persons by RCW 84.08.210, 82.32.330, 84.40.020, or 84.40.340 or (ii) violate the taxpayer's right to privacy or result in unfair competitive disadvantage to the taxpayer.
     (d) Specific intelligence information and specific investigative records compiled by investigative, law enforcement, and penology agencies, and state agencies vested with the responsibility to discipline members of any profession, the nondisclosure of which is essential to effective law enforcement or for the protection of any person's right to privacy.
     (e) Information revealing the identity of persons who are witnesses to or victims of crime or who file complaints with investigative, law enforcement, or penology agencies, other than the public disclosure commission, if disclosure would endanger any person's life, physical safety, or property. If at the time a complaint is filed the complainant, victim or witness indicates a desire for disclosure or nondisclosure, such desire shall govern. However, all complaints filed with the public disclosure commission about any elected official or candidate for public office must be made in writing and signed by the complainant under oath.
     (f) Test questions, scoring keys, and other examination data used to administer a license, employment, or academic examination.
     (g) Except as provided by chapter 8.26 RCW, the contents of real estate appraisals, made for or by any agency relative to the acquisition or sale of property, until the project or prospective sale is abandoned or until such time as all of the property has been acquired or the property to which the sale appraisal relates is sold, but in no event shall disclosure be denied for more than three years after the appraisal.
     (h) Valuable formulae, designs, drawings, computer source code or object code, and research data obtained by any agency within five years of the request for disclosure when disclosure would produce private gain and public loss.
     (i) Preliminary drafts, notes, recommendations, and intra-agency memorandums in which opinions are expressed or policies formulated or recommended except that a specific record shall not be exempt when publicly cited by an agency in connection with any agency action.
     (j) Records which are relevant to a controversy to which an agency is a party but which records would not be available to another party under the rules of pretrial discovery for causes pending in the superior courts.
     (k) Records, maps, or other information identifying the location of archaeological sites in order to avoid the looting or depredation of such sites.
     (l) Any library record, the primary purpose of which is to maintain control of library materials, or to gain access to information, which discloses or could be used to disclose the identity of a library user.
     (m) Financial information supplied by or on behalf of a person, firm, or corporation for the purpose of qualifying to submit a bid or proposal for (i) a ferry system construction or repair contract as required by RCW 47.60.680 through 47.60.750 or (ii) highway construction or improvement as required by RCW 47.28.070.
     (n) Railroad company contracts filed prior to July 28, 1991, with the utilities and transportation commission under RCW 81.34.070, except that the summaries of the contracts are open to public inspection and copying as otherwise provided by this chapter.
     (o) Financial and commercial information and records supplied by private persons pertaining to export services provided pursuant to chapter 43.163 RCW and chapter 53.31 RCW, and by persons pertaining to export projects pursuant to RCW 43.23.035.
     (p) Financial disclosures filed by private vocational schools under chapters 28B.85 and 28C.10 RCW.
     (q) Records filed with the utilities and transportation commission or attorney general under RCW 80.04.095 that a court has determined are confidential under RCW 80.04.095.
     (r) Financial and commercial information and records supplied by businesses or individuals during application for loans or program services provided by chapters 43.163, 43.160, 43.330, and 43.168 RCW, or during application for economic development loans or program services provided by any local agency.
     (s) Membership lists or lists of members or owners of interests of units in timeshare projects, subdivisions, camping resorts, condominiums, land developments, or common-interest communities affiliated with such projects, regulated by the department of licensing, in the files or possession of the department.
     (t) All applications for public employment, including the names of applicants, resumes, and other related materials submitted with respect to an applicant.
     (u) The residential addresses or residential telephone numbers of employees or volunteers of a public agency which are held by any public agency in personnel records, public employment related records, or volunteer rosters, or are included in any mailing list of employees or volunteers of any public agency.
     (v) The residential addresses and residential telephone numbers of the customers of a public utility contained in the records or lists held by the public utility of which they are customers, except that this information may be released to the division of child support or the agency or firm providing child support enforcement for another state under Title IV-D of the federal social security act, for the establishment, enforcement, or modification of a support order.
     (w)(i) The federal social security number of individuals governed under chapter 18.130 RCW maintained in the files of the department of health, except this exemption does not apply to requests made directly to the department from federal, state, and local agencies of government, and national and state licensing, credentialing, investigatory, disciplinary, and examination organizations; (ii) the current residential address and current residential telephone number of a health care provider governed under chapter 18.130 RCW maintained in the files of the department, if the provider requests that this information be withheld from public inspection and copying, and provides to the department an accurate alternate or business address and business telephone number. On or after January 1, 1995, the current residential address and residential telephone number of a health care provider governed under RCW 18.130.040 maintained in the files of the department shall automatically be withheld from public inspection and copying unless the provider specifically requests the information be released, and except as provided for under RCW 42.17.260(9).
     (x) Information obtained by the board of pharmacy as provided in RCW 69.45.090.
     (y) Information obtained by the board of pharmacy or the department of health and its representatives as provided in RCW 69.41.044, 69.41.280, and 18.64.420.
     (z) Financial information, business plans, examination reports, and any information produced or obtained in evaluating or examining a business and industrial development corporation organized or seeking certification under chapter 31.24 RCW.
     (aa) Financial and commercial information supplied to the state investment board by any person for two years after the date the information was supplied when the information relates to the investment of public trust or retirement funds and when disclosure would result in a material loss to such funds ((or in private loss to the providers of this information)).
     (bb) Financial and valuable trade information under RCW 51.36.120.
     (cc) Client records maintained by an agency that is a domestic violence program as defined in RCW 70.123.020 or 70.123.075 or a rape crisis center as defined in RCW 70.125.030.
     (dd) Information that identifies a person who, while an agency employee: (i) Seeks advice, under an informal process established by the employing agency, in order to ascertain his or her rights in connection with a possible unfair practice under chapter 49.60 RCW against the person; and (ii) requests his or her identity or any identifying information not be disclosed.
     (ee) Investigative records compiled by an employing agency conducting a current investigation of a possible unfair practice under chapter 49.60 RCW or of a possible violation of other federal, state, or local laws prohibiting discrimination in employment.
     (ff) Business related information protected from public inspection and copying under RCW 15.86.110.
     (gg) Financial, commercial, operations, and technical and research information and data submitted to or obtained by the clean Washington center in applications for, or delivery of, program services under chapter 70.95H RCW.
     (hh) Information and documents created specifically for, and collected and maintained by a quality improvement committee pursuant to RCW 43.70.510 or 70.41.200, or by a peer review committee under RCW 4.24.250, regardless of which agency is in possession of the information and documents.
     (ii) Personal information in files maintained in a data base created under RCW 43.07.360.
     (jj) Financial and commercial information requested by the public stadium authority from any person or organization that leases or uses the stadium and exhibition center as defined in RCW 36.102.010.
     (kk) Names of individuals residing in emergency or transitional housing that are furnished to the department of revenue or a county assessor in order to substantiate a claim for property tax exemption under RCW 84.36.043.
     (ll) The names, residential addresses, residential telephone numbers, and other individually identifiable records held by an agency in relation to a vanpool, carpool, or other ride-sharing program or service. However, these records may be disclosed to other persons who apply for ride-matching services and who need that information in order to identify potential riders or drivers with whom to share rides.
     (mm) The personally identifying information of current or former participants or applicants in a paratransit or other transit service operated for the benefit of persons with disabilities or elderly persons.
     (nn) The personally identifying information of persons who acquire and use transit passes and other fare payment media including, but not limited to, stored value smart cards and magnetic strip cards, except that an agency may disclose this information to a person, employer, educational institution, or other entity that is responsible, in whole or in part, for payment of the cost of acquiring or using a transit pass or other fare payment media, or to the news media when reporting on public transportation or public safety. This information may also be disclosed at the agency's discretion to governmental agencies or groups concerned with public transportation or public safety.
     (oo) Proprietary financial and commercial information that the submitting entity, with review by the department of health, specifically identifies at the time it is submitted and that is provided to or obtained by the department of health in connection with an application for, or the supervision of, an antitrust exemption sought by the submitting entity under RCW 43.72.310. If a request for such information is received, the submitting entity must be notified of the request. Within ten business days of receipt of the notice, the submitting entity shall provide a written statement of the continuing need for confidentiality, which shall be provided to the requester. Upon receipt of such notice, the department of health shall continue to treat information designated under this section as exempt from disclosure. If the requester initiates an action to compel disclosure under this chapter, the submitting entity must be joined as a party to demonstrate the continuing need for confidentiality.
     (pp) Records maintained by the board of industrial insurance appeals that are related to appeals of crime victims' compensation claims filed with the board under RCW 7.68.110.
     (qq) Financial and commercial information supplied by or on behalf of a person, firm, corporation, or entity under chapter 28B.95 RCW relating to the purchase or sale of tuition units and contracts for the purchase of multiple tuition units.
     (rr) Any records of investigative reports prepared by any state, county, municipal, or other law enforcement agency pertaining to sex offenses contained in chapter 9A.44 RCW or sexually violent offenses as defined in RCW 71.09.020, which have been transferred to the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs for permanent electronic retention and retrieval pursuant to RCW 40.14.070(2)(b).
     (ss) Credit card numbers, debit card numbers, electronic check numbers, card expiration dates, or bank or other financial account numbers, except when disclosure is expressly required by or governed by other law.
     (tt) Financial information, including but not limited to account numbers and values, and other identification numbers supplied by or on behalf of a person, firm, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity related to an application for a liquor license, gambling license, or lottery retail license.
     (uu) Records maintained by the employment security department and subject to chapter 50.13 RCW if provided to another individual or organization for operational, research, or evaluation purposes.
     (vv) Individually identifiable information received by the work force training and education coordinating board for research or evaluation purposes.
     (ww) Those portions of records assembled, prepared, or maintained to prevent, mitigate, or respond to criminal terrorist acts, which are acts that significantly disrupt the conduct of government or of the general civilian population of the state or the United States and that manifest an extreme indifference to human life, the public disclosure of which would have a substantial likelihood of threatening public safety, consisting of:
     (i) Specific and unique vulnerability assessments or specific and unique response or deployment plans, including compiled underlying data collected in preparation of or essential to the assessments, or to the response or deployment plans; and
     (ii) Records not subject to public disclosure under federal law that are shared by federal or international agencies, and information prepared from national security briefings provided to state or local government officials related to domestic preparedness for acts of terrorism.
     (xx) Commercial fishing catch data from logbooks required to be provided to the department of fish and wildlife under RCW 77.12.047, when the data identifies specific catch location, timing, or methodology and the release of which would result in unfair competitive disadvantage to the commercial fisher providing the catch data. However, this information may be released to government agencies concerned with the management of fish and wildlife resources.
     (yy) Sensitive wildlife data obtained by the department of fish and wildlife. However, sensitive wildlife data may be released to government agencies concerned with the management of fish and wildlife resources. Sensitive wildlife data includes:
     (i) The nesting sites or specific locations of endangered species designated under RCW 77.12.020, or threatened or sensitive species classified by rule of the department of fish and wildlife;
     (ii) Radio frequencies used in, or locational data generated by, telemetry studies; or
     (iii) Other location data that could compromise the viability of a specific fish or wildlife population, and where at least one of the following criteria are met:
     (A) The species has a known commercial or black market value;
     (B) There is a history of malicious take of that species; or
     (C) There is a known demand to visit, take, or disturb, and the species behavior or ecology renders it especially vulnerable or the species has an extremely limited distribution and concentration.
     (zz) The personally identifying information of persons who acquire recreational licenses under RCW 77.32.010 or commercial licenses under chapter 77.65 or 77.70 RCW, except name, address of contact used by the department, and type of license, endorsement, or tag. However, the department of fish and wildlife may disclose personally identifying information to:
     (i) Government agencies concerned with the management of fish and wildlife resources;
     (ii) The department of social and health services, child support division, and to the department of licensing in order to implement RCW 77.32.014 and 46.20.291; and
     (iii) Law enforcement agencies for the purpose of firearm possession enforcement under RCW 9.41.040.
     (aaa)(i) Discharge papers of a veteran of the armed forces of the United States filed at the office of the county auditor before July 1, 2002, that have not been commingled with other recorded documents. These records will be available only to the veteran, the veteran's next of kin, a deceased veteran's properly appointed personal representative or executor, a person holding that veteran's general power of attorney, or to anyone else designated in writing by that veteran to receive the records.
     (ii) Discharge papers of a veteran of the armed forces of the United States filed at the office of the county auditor before July 1, 2002, that have been commingled with other records, if the veteran has recorded a "request for exemption from public disclosure of discharge papers" with the county auditor. If such a request has been recorded, these records may be released only to the veteran filing the papers, the veteran's next of kin, a deceased veteran's properly appointed personal representative or executor, a person holding the veteran's general power of attorney, or anyone else designated in writing by the veteran to receive the records.
     (iii) Discharge papers of a veteran filed at the office of the county auditor after June 30, 2002, are not public records, but will be available only to the veteran, the veteran's next of kin, a deceased veteran's properly appointed personal representative or executor, a person holding the veteran's general power of attorney, or anyone else designated in writing by the veteran to receive the records.
     (iv) For the purposes of this subsection (1)(aaa), next of kin of deceased veterans have the same rights to full access to the record. Next of kin are the veteran's widow or widower who has not remarried, son, daughter, father, mother, brother, and sister.
     (bbb) Those portions of records containing specific and unique vulnerability assessments or specific and unique emergency and escape response plans at a city, county, or state adult or juvenile correctional facility, the public disclosure of which would have a substantial likelihood of threatening the security of a city, county, or state adult or juvenile correctional facility or any individual's safety.
     (ccc) Information compiled by school districts or schools in the development of their comprehensive safe school plans pursuant to RCW 28A.320.125, to the extent that they identify specific vulnerabilities of school districts and each individual school.
     (ddd) Information regarding the infrastructure and security of computer and telecommunications networks, consisting of security passwords, security access codes and programs, access codes for secure software applications, security and service recovery plans, security risk assessments, and security test results to the extent that they identify specific system vulnerabilities.
     (eee) Information obtained and exempted or withheld from public inspection by the health care authority under RCW 41.05.026, whether retained by the authority, transferred to another state purchased health care program by the authority, or transferred by the authority to a technical review committee created to facilitate the development, acquisition, or implementation of state purchased health care under chapter 41.05 RCW.
     (fff) Proprietary data, trade secrets, or other information that relates to: (i) A vendor's unique methods of conducting business; (ii) data unique to the product or services of the vendor; or (iii) determining prices or rates to be charged for services, submitted by any vendor to the department of social and health services for purposes of the development, acquisition, or implementation of state purchased health care as defined in RCW 41.05.011.
     (2) Except for information described in subsection (1)(c)(i) of this section and confidential income data exempted from public inspection pursuant to RCW 84.40.020, the exemptions of this section are inapplicable to the extent that information, the disclosure of which would violate personal privacy or vital governmental interests, can be deleted from the specific records sought. No exemption may be construed to permit the nondisclosure of statistical information not descriptive of any readily identifiable person or persons.
     (3) Inspection or copying of any specific records exempt under the provisions of this section may be permitted if the superior court in the county in which the record is maintained finds, after a hearing with notice thereof to every person in interest and the agency, that the exemption of such records is clearly unnecessary to protect any individual's right of privacy or any vital governmental function.
     (4) Agency responses refusing, in whole or in part, inspection of any public record shall include a statement of the specific exemption authorizing the withholding of the record (or part) and a brief explanation of how the exemption applies to the record withheld.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 20   RCW 43.33A.210 (Assets not publicly traded--Treatment of rent and income--Management accounts--Application of this chapter and chapter 39.58 RCW) and 1997 c 359 s 2 are each repealed.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 21   Section 18 of this act expires June 30, 2005.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 22   Section 19 of this act takes effect June 30, 2005.

--- END ---