BILL REQ. #:  Z-0975.3 

Read first time 01/21/2004.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

     AN ACT Relating to confidential court records; adding a new section to chapter 2.28 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 2.28 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) No employee of a court, county clerk's office, government agency, the administrative office of the courts, or any other person or entity may access, use, or disclose confidential court records, unless authorized.
     (2) A court record is confidential if access to that record is restricted by statute, court order, or court rules.
     (3) For the purposes of this section, "authorized" means access: (a) For the purpose of conducting official court business for a use specifically permitted by employment status; (b) by court order, court rule, or statute for the use specified; or (c) by contractual provision contained in an agreement between the official custodian of the court record and another person or entity as specified in such agreement.
     (4) Violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor.