FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1962

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Background:

Under court rule, a sheriff, sheriff's deputy, or any non-party over the age of 18 who is competent to be a witness is authorized to serve legal process. If a person is serving process for a fee, the person must be over the age of 18, a Washington resident, and registered with the auditor of the county in which the process server resides or operates his or her principal place of business.

County auditors must develop a process server registration process and may collect an annual registration fee of up to $10. Auditors must use a form in the registration process for the purpose of identifying and locating registered process servers. The form must include the process server's name, birthdate, and Social Security number, as well as the process server's business name, business address, and business telephone number. Each process server is assigned a number and the county auditor maintains a register of process servers.

Summary:

County auditors collecting Social Security numbers from registering process servers are prohibited from displaying or releasing a process server's Social Security number on any document or website issued or maintained by the auditor. Social Security numbers of process servers are confidential, exempt from public inspection and copying, and may not be disclosed unless disclosure is required under federal law.

Votes on Final Passage:

House	98	0
Senate	47	0