Sponsored by Rep. Larry Springer (D-Kirkland), HB 1160 enacts recommendations of the Sunshine Committee. At the request of the Attorney General’s Office, a law passed in 2007 creating the Public Records Exemptions Accountability Committee (Sunshine Committee). The Sunshine Committee makes recommendations to the Legislature to repeal or amend exemptions to the Public Records Act.
The bill:
- Requires public disclosure for personal information where the subject of the information consents to disclosure.
- Exempts public employee and volunteer passport and visa numbers from public disclosure.
- Exempts information regarding the ongoing investigations of employment-related discrimination from public disclosure until the agency provides notice of the outcome of the investigation.
- Exempts trade secrets from public disclosure.
- Allows attorney's fees to any defendant who successfully defends against an injunction of the public disclosure of financial, commercial, or proprietary records.
HB 1160 is a carryover from last session and will be heard on Tuesday, January 9 at 8 am in the House State Government, Elections & IT Committee. AWC will continue to support it.