BILL REQ. #:  Z-0341.2 

Read first time 01/19/2007.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to the public records exemptions accountability committee; and adding a new section to chapter 42.56 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 42.56 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The public records exemptions accountability committee is created to review all exemptions from public disclosure under this chapter and throughout the Revised Code of Washington.
     (2) The committee consists of thirteen members as follows:
     (a) A representative appointed by the governor;
     (b) A representative appointed by the attorney general;
     (c) A representative appointed by the state auditor;
     (d) A representative of local government, to be selected by the governor;
     (e) A representative of a statewide media association, to be selected by the attorney general;
     (f) A member of the senate, to be selected by the senate majority leader;
     (g) A member of the senate, to be selected by the senate minority leader;
     (h) A member of the house of representatives, to be selected by the speaker of the house of representatives;
     (i) A member of the house of representatives, to be selected by the house of representatives minority leader; and
     (j) Four members of the public, to be selected by the nine members described in (a) through (i) of this subsection. Members of the public shall be selected with consideration given to diversity of viewpoint and geographic diversity.
     (3) Terms of the members shall be two years and shall be staggered, beginning August 1, 2007.
     (4) All meetings of the committee shall be open to the public.
     (5) By August 1, 2007, the code reviser shall provide the committee with a list of all exemptions from public disclosure under this chapter that are not codified in this chapter.
     (6) The committee shall meet by October 1, 2007, to discuss the exemptions and recommend the repeal or amendment of any exemptions. By December 1, 2007, the committee shall transmit its recommendations to the appropriate committees of the house of representatives and the senate.
     (7) Beginning in 2008, the code reviser shall by August 1st of each year provide the committee with a list of all exemptions from public disclosure under this chapter that are not codified in this chapter. The committee shall meet a minimum of once each year, after the close of the legislative session but no later than October 1st. Each year, the committee shall prepare a list of exemptions, if any, that it recommends for repeal or amendment, and transmit the information to appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1st of that year.