RCW ch. 42.56 — Revised Code of Washington Chapter 42.56 RCW — Public Records Act

RCW 42.56.001 Finding, purpose. The legislature finds that *chapter 42.17 RCW contains laws relating to several discrete subjects. Therefore, the purpose of chapter 274, Laws of 2005 is to recodify some of those laws and create a new chapter in the Revised Code of Washington that contains laws pertaining to public records. [ 2005 c 274 s 1.] NOTES: *Reviser's note: RCW 42.56.010 Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Agency" includes all state agencies and all local agencies. "State agency" includes every state office, department, division, bureau, board, commission, or other state agency. "Local agency" includes every county, city, town, municipal corporation, quasi-municipal corporation, or special purpose district, or any office, department, division, bureau, board, commission, or agency thereof, or other local public agency. "Agency" does not include a comprehensive cancer center participating in a collaborative arrangement as defined in RCW 28B.10.930 that is operated in conformance with RCW 28B.10.930. (2) "Person in interest" means the person who is the subject of a record or any representative designated by that person, except that if that person is under a legal disability, "person in interest" means and includes the parent or duly appointed legal representative. (3) "Public record" includes any writing containing information relating to the conduct of government or the performance of any governmental or proprietary function prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics. For the office of the secretary of the senate and the office of the chief clerk of the house of representatives, public records means legislative records as defined in RCW 40.14.100 and also means the following: All budget and financial records; personnel leave, travel, and payroll records; records of legislative sessions; reports submitted to the legislature; and any other record designated a public record by any official action of the senate or the house of representatives. This definition does not include records that are not otherwise required to be retained by the agency and are held by volunteers who: (a) Do not serve in an administrative capacity; (b) Have not been appointed by the agency to an agency board, commission, or internship; and (c) Do not have a supervisory role or delegated agency authority. (4) "Writing" means handwriting, typewriting, printing, photostating, photographing, and every other means of recording any form of communication or representation including, but not limited to, letters, words, pictures, sounds, or symbols, or combination thereof, and all papers, maps, magnetic or paper tapes, photographic films and prints, motion picture, film and video recordings, magnetic or punched cards, discs, drums, diskettes, sound recordings, and other documents including existing data compilations from which information may be obtained or translated. [ 2022 c 71 s 6; 2017 c 303 s 1; 2010 c 204 s 1005; 2007 c 197 s 1; 2005 c 274 s 101.] NOTES: Findings— RCW 42.56.020 Short title. This chapter may be known and cited as the public records act. [ 2005 c 274 s 102.] RCW 42.56.030 Construction. The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies that serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may maintain control over the instruments that they have created. This chapter shall be liberally construed and its exemptions narrowly construed to promote this public policy and to assure that the public interest will be fully protected. In the event of conflict between the provisions of this chapter and any other act, the provisions of this chapter shall govern. [ 2007 c 197 s 2; 2005 c 274 s 283; 1992 c 139 s 2. Formerly RCW 42.17.251.] RCW 42.56.040 Duty to publish procedures. (1) Each state agency shall separately state and currently publish in the Washington Administrative Code and each local agency shall prominently display and make available for inspection and copying at the central office of such local agency, for guidance of the public: (a) Descriptions of its central and field organization and the established places at which, the employees from whom, and the methods whereby, the public may obtain information, make submittals or requests, or obtain copies of agency decisions; (b) Statements of the general course and method by which its operations are channeled and determined, including the nature and requirements of all formal and informal procedures available; (c) Rules of procedure; (d) Substantive rules of general applicability adopted as authorized by law, and statements of general policy or interpretations of general applicability formulated and adopted by the agency; and (e) Each amendment or revision to, or repeal of any of the foregoing. (2) Except to the extent that he or she has actual and timely notice of the terms thereof, a person may not in any manner be required to resort to, or be adversely affected by, a matter required to be published or displayed and not so published or displayed. [ 2012 c 117 s 127; 1973 c 1 s 25 (Initiative Measure No. 276, approved November 7, 1972). Formerly RCW 42.17.250.] NOTES: Effective date— RCW 42.56.050 Invasion of privacy, when. A person's "right to privacy," "right of privacy," "privacy," or "personal privacy," as these terms are used in this chapter, is invaded or violated only if disclosure of information about the person: (1) Would be highly offensive to a reasonable person, and (2) is not of legitimate concern to the public. The provisions of this chapter dealing with the right to privacy in certain public records do not create any right of privacy beyond those rights that are specified in this chapter as express exemptions from the public's right to inspect, examine, or copy public records. [ 1987 c 403 s 2. Formerly RCW 42.17.255.] NOTES: Intent— RCW 42.56.060 Disclaimer of public liability. No public agency, public official, public employee, or custodian shall be liable, nor shall a cause of action exist, for any loss or damage based upon the release of a public record if the public agency, public official, public employee, or custodian acted in good faith in attempting to comply with the provisions of this chapter. [ 1992 c 139 s 11. Formerly RCW 42.17.258.] RCW 42.56.070 Documents and indexes to be made public—Statement of costs. (1) Each agency, in accordance with published rules, shall make available for public inspection and copying all public records, unless the record falls within the specific exemptions of subsection (8) of this section, this chapter, or other statute which exempts or prohibits disclosure of specific information or records. To the extent required to prevent an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy interests protected by this chapter, an agency shall delete identifying details in a manner consistent with this chapter when it makes available or publishes any public record; however, in each case, the justification for the deletion shall be explained fully in writing. (2) For informational purposes, each agency shall publish and maintain a current list containing every law, other than those listed in this chapter, that the agency believes exempts or prohibits disclosure of specific information or records of the agency. An agency's failure to list an exemption shall not affect the efficacy of any exemption. (3) Each local agency shall maintain and make available for public inspection and copying a current index providing identifying information as to the following records issued, adopted, or promulgated after January 1, 1973: (a) Final opinions, including concurring and dissenting opinions, as well as orders, made in the adjudication of cases; (b) Those statements of policy and interpretations of policy, statute, and the Constitution which have been adopted by the agency; (c) Administrative staff manuals and instructions to staff that affect a member of the public; (d) Planning policies and goals, and interim and final planning decisions; (e) Factual staff reports and studies, factual consultant's reports and studies, scientific reports and studies, and any other factual information derived from tests, studies, reports, or surveys, whether conducted by public employees or others; and (f) Correspondence, and materials referred to therein, by and with the agency relating to any regulatory, supervisory, or enforcement responsibilities of the agency, whereby the agency determines, or opines upon, or is asked to determine or opine upon, the rights of the state, the public, a subdivision of state government, or of any private party. (4) A local agency need not maintain such an index, if to do so would be unduly burdensome, but it shall in that event: (a) Issue and publish a formal order specifying the reasons why and the extent to which compliance would unduly burden or interfere with agency operations; and (b) Make available for public inspection and copying all indexes maintained for agency use. (5) Each state agency shall, by rule, establish and implement a system of indexing for the identification and location of the following records: (a) All records issued before July 1, 1990, for which the agency has maintained an index; (b) Final orders entered after June 30, 1990, that are issued in adjudicative proceedings as defined in RCW 34.05.010 and that contain an analysis or decision of substantial importance to the agency in carrying out its duties; (c) Declaratory orders entered after June 30, 1990, that are issued pursuant to RCW 34.05.240 and that contain an analysis or decision of substantial importance to the agency in carrying out its duties; (d) Interpretive statements as defined in RCW 34.05.010 that were entered after June 30, 1990; and (e) Policy statements as defined in RCW 34.05.010 that were entered after June 30, 1990. Rules establishing systems of indexing shall include, but not be limited to, requirements for the form and content of the index, its location and availability to the public, and the schedule for revising or updating the index. State agencies that have maintained indexes for records issued before July 1, 1990, shall continue to make such indexes available for public inspection and copying. Information in such indexes may be incorporated into indexes prepared pursuant to this subsection. State agencies may satisfy the requirements of this subsection by making available to the public indexes prepared by other parties but actually used by the agency in its operations. State agencies shall make indexes available for public inspection and copying. State agencies may charge a fee to cover the actual costs of providing individual mailed copies of indexes. (6) A public record may be relied on, used, or cited as precedent by an agency against a party other than an agency and it may be invoked by the agency for any other purpose only if: (a) It has been indexed in an index available to the public; or (b) Parties affected have timely notice (actual or constructive) of the terms thereof. (7) Each agency may establish, maintain, and make available for public inspection and copying a statement of the actual costs that it charges for providing photocopies or electronically produced copies, of public records and a statement of the factors and manner used to determine the actual costs. Any statement of costs may be adopted by an agency only after providing notice and public hearing. (a)(i) In determining the actual cost for providing copies of public records, an agency may include all costs directly incident to copying such public records including: (A) The actual cost of the paper and the per page cost for use of agency copying equipment; and (B) The actual cost of the electronic production or file transfer of the record and the use of any cloud-based data storage and processing service. (ii) In determining other actual costs for providing copies of public records, an agency may include all costs directly incident to: (A) Shipping such public records, including the cost of postage or delivery charges and the cost of any container or envelope used; and (B) Transmitting such records in an electronic format, including the cost of any transmission charge and use of any physical media device provided by the agency. (b) In determining the actual costs for providing copies of public records, an agency may not include staff salaries, benefits, or other general administrative or overhead charges, unless those costs are directly related to the actual cost of copying the public records. Staff time to copy and send the requested public records may be included in an agency's costs. (8) This chapter shall not be construed as giving authority to any agency, the office of the secretary of the senate, or the office of the chief clerk of the house of representatives to give, sell or provide access to lists of individuals requested for commercial purposes, and agencies, the office of the secretary of the senate, and the office of the chief clerk of the house of representatives shall not do so unless specifically authorized or directed by law: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That lists of applicants for professional licenses and of professional licensees shall be made available to those professional associations or educational organizations recognized by their professional licensing or examination board, upon payment of a reasonable charge therefor: PROVIDED FURTHER, That such recognition may be refused only for a good cause pursuant to a hearing under the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW, the administrative procedure act. [ 2017 c 304 s 1; 2005 c 274 s 284; 1997 c 409 s 601. Prior: 1995 c 397 s 11; 1995 c 341 s 1; 1992 c 139 s 3; 1989 c 175 s 36; 1987 c 403 s 3; 1975 1st ex.s. c 294 s 14; 1973 c 1 s 26 (Initiative Measure No. 276, approved November 7, 1972). Formerly RCW 42.17.260.] NOTES: Part headings— RCW 42.56.080 Identifiable records—Facilities for copying—Availability of public records. (1)(a) A public records request must be for identifiable records. A request for all or substantially all records prepared, owned, used, or retained by an agency is not a valid request for identifiable records under this chapter, provided that a request for all records regarding a particular topic or containing a particular keyword or name shall not be considered a request for all of an agency's records. (b) A request for a recording required to be maintained by a school district board of directors under RCW 42.30.035(2) shall only be considered a valid request for an identifiable record when the date of the recording, or a range of dates, is specified in the request. When searching for and providing identifiable recordings, no search criteria except date must be considered by the school district. (2) Public records shall be available for inspection and copying, and agencies shall, upon request for identifiable public records, make them promptly available to any person including, if applicable, on a partial or installment basis as records that are part of a larger set of requested records are assembled or made ready for inspection or disclosure. Agencies shall not deny a request for identifiable public records solely on the basis that the request is overbroad. Agencies shall not distinguish among persons requesting records, and such persons shall not be required to provide information as to the purpose for the request except to establish whether inspection and copying would violate RCW 42.56.070(8) or 42.56.240(14), or other statute which exempts or prohibits disclosure of specific information or records to certain persons. Agency facilities shall be made available to any person for the copying of public records except when and to the extent that this would unreasonably disrupt the operations of the agency. Agencies shall honor requests received in person during an agency's normal office hours, or by mail or email, for identifiable public records unless exempted by provisions of this chapter. No official format is required for making a records request; however, agencies may recommend that requestors submit requests using an agency provided form or web page. (3) An agency may deny a bot request that is one of multiple requests from the requestor to the agency within a twenty-four hour period, if the agency establishes that responding to the multiple requests would cause excessive interference with other essential functions of the agency. For purposes of this subsection, "bot request" means a request for public records that an agency reasonably believes was automatically generated by a computer program or script. [ 2023 c 67 s 1; 2017 c 304 s 2; 2016 c 163 s 3. Prior: 2005 c 483 s 1; 2005 c 274 s 285; 1987 c 403 s 4; 1975 1st ex.s. c 294 s 15; 1973 c 1 s 27 (Initiative Measure No. 276, approved November 7, 1972). Formerly RCW 42.17.270.] NOTES: Effective date— RCW 42.56.090 Times for inspection and copying—Posting on website. Public records shall be available for inspection and copying during the customary office hours of the agency, the office of the secretary of the senate, and the office of the chief clerk of the house of representatives for a minimum of thirty hours per week, except weeks that include state legal holidays, unless the person making the request and the agency, the office of the secretary of the senate, or the office of the chief clerk of the house of representatives or its representative agree on a different time. Customary business hours must be posted on the agency or office's website and made known by other means designed to provide the public with notice. [ 2009 c 428 s 2; 1995 c 397 s 12; 1973 c 1 s 28 (Initiative Measure No. 276, approved November 7, 1972). Formerly RCW 42.17.280.] NOTES: Effective date— RCW 42.56.100 Protection of public records—Public access. Agencies shall adopt and enforce reasonable rules and regulations, and the office of the secretary of the senate and the office of the chief clerk of the house of representatives shall adopt reasonable procedures allowing for the time, resource, and personnel constraints associated with legislative sessions, consonant with the intent of this chapter to provide full public access to public records, to protect public records from damage or disorganization, and to prevent excessive interference with other essential functions of the agency, the office of the secretary of the senate, or the office of the chief clerk of the house of representatives. Such rules and regulations shall provide for the fullest assistance to inquirers and the most timely possible action on requests for information. Nothing in this section shall relieve agencies, the office of the secretary of the senate, and the office of the chief clerk of the house of representatives from honoring requests received by mail for copies of identifiable public records. If a public record request is made at a time when such record exists but is scheduled for destruction in the near future, the agency, the office of the secretary of the senate, or the office of the chief clerk of the house of representatives shall retain possession of the record, and may not destroy or erase the record until the request is resolved. [ 1995 c 397 s 13; 1992 c 139 s 4; 1975 1st ex.s. c 294 s 16; 1973 c 1 s 29 (Initiative Measure No. 276, approved November 7, 1972). Formerly RCW 42.17.290.] NOTES: Effective date— RCW 42.56.110 Destruction of information relating to employee misconduct. Nothing in this chapter prevents an agency from destroying information relating to employee misconduct or alleged misconduct, in accordance with RCW 41.06.450, to the extent necessary to ensure fairness to the employee. [ 1982 c 208 s 13. Formerly RCW 42.17.295.] RCW 42.56.120 Charges for copying. (1) No fee shall be charged for the inspection of public records or locating public documents and making them available for copying, except as provided in RCW 42.56.240(14) and subsection (3) of this section. A reasonable charge may be imposed for providing copies of public records and for the use by any person of agency equipment or equipment of the office of the secretary of the senate or the office of the chief clerk of the house of representatives to copy public records, which charges shall not exceed the amount necessary to reimburse the agency, the office of the secretary of the senate, or the office of the chief clerk of the house of representatives for its actual costs directly incident to such copying. When calculating any fees authorized under this section, an agency shall use the most reasonable cost-efficient method available to the agency as part of its normal operations. If any agency translates a record into an alternative electronic format at the request of a requestor, the copy created does not constitute a new public record for purposes of this chapter. Scanning paper records to make electronic copies of such records is a method of copying paper records and does not amount to the creation of a new public record. (2)(a) Agency charges for actual costs may only be imposed in accordance with the costs established and published by the agency pursuant to RCW 42.56.070(7), and in accordance with the statement of factors and manner used to determine the actual costs. In no event may an agency charge a per page cost greater than the actual cost as established and published by the agency. (b) An agency need not calculate the actual costs it charges for providing public records if it has rules or regulations declaring the reasons doing so would be unduly burdensome. To the extent the agency has not determined the actual costs of copying public records, the agency may not charge in excess of: (i) Fifteen cents per page for photocopies of public records, printed copies of electronic public records when requested by the person requesting records, or for the use of agency equipment to photocopy public records; (ii) Ten cents per page for public records scanned into an electronic format or for the use of agency equipment to scan the records; (iii) Five cents per each four electronic files or attachment uploaded to email, cloud-based data storage service, or other means of electronic delivery; and (iv) Ten cents per gigabyte for the transmission of public records in an electronic format or for the use of agency equipment to send the records electronically. The agency shall take reasonable steps to provide the records in the most efficient manner available to the agency in its normal operations; and (v) The actual cost of any digital storage media or device provided by the agency, the actual cost of any container or envelope used to mail the copies to the requestor, and the actual postage or delivery charge. (c) The charges in (b) of this subsection may be combined to the extent that more than one type of charge applies to copies produced in response to a particular request. (d) An agency may charge a flat fee of up to two dollars for any request as an alternative to fees authorized under (a) or (b) of this subsection when the agency reasonably estimates and documents that the costs allowed under this subsection are clearly equal to or more than two dollars. An additional flat fee shall not be charged for any installment after the first installment of a request produced in installments. An agency that has elected to charge the flat fee in this subsection for an initial installment may not charge the fees authorized under (a) or (b) of this subsection on subsequent installments. (e) An agency shall not impose copying charges under this section for access to or downloading of records that the agency routinely posts on its public internet website prior to receipt of a request unless the requestor has specifically requested that the agency provide copies of such records through other means. (f) A requestor may ask an agency to provide, and if requested an agency shall provide, a summary of the applicable charges before any copies are made and the requestor may revise the request to reduce the number of copies to be made and reduce the applicable charges. (3)(a)(i) In addition to the charge imposed for providing copies of public records and for the use by any person of agency equipment copying costs, an agency may include a customized service charge. A customized service charge may only be imposed if the agency estimates that the request would require the use of information technology expertise to prepare data compilations, or provide customized electronic access services when such compilations and customized access services are not used by the agency for other agency purposes. (ii) The customized service charge may reimburse the agency up to the actual cost of providing the services in this subsection. (b) An agency may not assess a customized service charge unless the agency has notified the requestor of the customized service charge to be applied to the request, including an explanation of why the customized service charge applies, a description of the specific expertise, and a reasonable estimate cost of the charge. The notice also must provide the requestor the opportunity to amend his or her request in order to avoid or reduce the cost of a customized service charge. (4) An agency may require a deposit in an amount not to exceed ten percent of the estimated cost of providing copies for a request, including a customized service charge. If an agency makes a request available on a partial or installment basis, the agency may charge for each part of the request as it is provided. If an installment of a records request is not claimed or reviewed, the agency is not obligated to fulfill the balance of the request. An agency may waive any charge assessed for a request pursuant to agency rules and regulations. An agency may enter into any contract, memorandum of understanding, or other agreement with a requestor that provides an alternative fee arrangement to the charges authorized in this section, or in response to a voluminous or frequently occurring request. [ 2017 c 304 s 3; 2016 c 163 s 4; 2005 c 483 s 2. Prior: 1995 c 397 s 14; 1995 c 341 s 2; 1973 c 1 s 30 (Initiative Measure No. 276, approved November 7, 1972). Formerly RCW 42.17.300.] NOTES: Finding— RCW 42.56.130 Other provisions not superseded. The provisions of RCW * 42.56.070 (7) and (8) and 42.56.120 that establish or allow agencies to establish the costs charged for photocopies or electronically produced copies of public records do not supersede other statutory provisions, other than in this chapter, authorizing or governing fees for copying public records. [ 2017 c 304 s 4; 2005 c 274 s 286; 1995 c 341 s 3. Formerly RCW 42.17.305.] NOTES: *Reviser's note: RCW 42.56.140 Public records exemptions accountability committee. (1)(a) The public records exemptions accountability committee is created to review exemptions from public disclosure, with thirteen members as provided in this subsection. (i) The governor shall appoint two members, one of whom represents the governor and one of whom represents local government. (ii) The attorney general shall appoint two members, one of whom represents the attorney general and one of whom represents a statewide media association. (iii) The state auditor shall appoint one member. (iv) The president of the senate shall appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate. (v) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives. (vi) The governor shall appoint four members of the public, with consideration given to diversity of viewpoint and geography. (b) The governor shall select the chair of the committee from among its membership. (c) Terms of the members shall be four years and shall be staggered, beginning August 1, 2007. (2) The purpose of the public records exemptions accountability committee is to review public disclosure exemptions and provide recommendations pursuant to subsection (7)(d) of this section. The committee shall develop and publish criteria for review of public exemptions. (3) All meetings of the committee shall be open to the public. (4) The committee must consider input from interested parties. (5) The office of the attorney general and the office of financial management shall provide staff support to the committee. (6) Legislative members of the committee shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative members, except those representing an employer or organization, are entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. (7)(a) Beginning August 1, 2007, the code reviser shall provide the committee by August 1st of each year with a list of all public disclosure exemptions in the Revised Code of Washington. (b) The committee shall develop a schedule to accomplish a review of each public disclosure exemption. The committee shall publish the schedule and publish any revisions made to the schedule. (c) The chair shall convene an initial meeting of the committee by September 1, 2007. The committee shall meet at least four times a year and may hold additional meetings at the call of the chair or by a majority vote of the members of the committee. (d) For each public disclosure exemption, the committee shall provide a recommendation as to whether the exemption should be continued without modification, modified, scheduled for sunset review at a future date, or terminated. By November 15th of each year, the committee shall transmit its recommendations to the governor, the attorney general, and the appropriate committees of the house of representatives and the senate. [ 2025 c 110 s 1; 2007 c 198 s 2.] NOTES: Finding— RCW 42.56.141 Public records exemptions accountability committee—Wolf depredation information exemption. (Expires June 30, 2027.) By December 1, 2021, the public records exemptions accountability committee, in addition to its duties in RCW 42.56.140, must prepare and submit a report to the legislature that includes recommendations on whether the exemptions created in section 1, chapter 246, Laws of 2017 should be continued or allowed to expire. The report should focus on whether the exemption continues to serve the intent of the legislature in section 1, chapter 246, Laws of 2017 to provide protections of personal information during the period the state establishes and implements new policies regarding wolf management. The committee must consider whether the development of wolf management policy, by the time of the report, has diminished risks of threats to personal safety so that the protection of personal information in section 1, chapter 246, Laws of 2017 is no longer an ongoing necessity. [ 2017 c 246 s 3.] NOTES: Expiration date— RCW 42.56.150 Training—Local elected and statewide elected officials. (1) Each local elected official and statewide elected official, and each person appointed to fill a vacancy in a local or statewide office, must complete a training course regarding the provisions of this chapter, and also chapter 40.14 RCW for records retention. (2) Officials required to complete training under this section may complete their training before assuming office but must: (a) Complete training no later than ninety days after the date the official either: (i) Takes the oath of office, if the official is required to take an oath of office to assume his or her duties as a public official; or (ii) Otherwise assumes his or her duties as a public official; and (b) Complete refresher training at intervals of no more than four years for as long as he or she holds the office. (3) Training must be consistent with the attorney general's model rules for compliance with the public records act. (4) Training may be completed remotely with technology including but not limited to internet-based training. [ 2014 c 66 s 3.] NOTES: Findings— RCW 42.56.152 Training—Public records officers. (1) Public records officers designated under RCW 42.56.580 and records officers designated under RCW 40.14.040 must complete a training course regarding the provisions of this chapter, and also chapter 40.14 RCW for records retention. (2) Public records officers must: (a) Complete training no later than ninety days after assuming responsibilities as a public records officer or records manager; and (b) Complete refresher training at intervals of no more than four years as long as they maintain the designation. (3) Training must be consistent with the attorney general's model rules for compliance with the public records act. (4) Training may be completed remotely with technology including but not limited to internet-based training. (5) Training must address particular issues related to the retention, production, and disclosure of electronic documents, including updating and improving technology information services. [ 2017 c 303 s 2; 2014 c 66 s 4.] NOTES: Findings— RCW 42.56.155 Assistance by attorney general. The attorney general's office may provide information, technical assistance, and training on the provisions of this chapter. [ 2014 c 66 s 5.] NOTES: Findings— RCW 42.56.210 Certain personal and other records exempt. (1) Except for information described in *RCW 42.56.230(3)(a) and confidential income data exempted from public inspection pursuant to RCW 84.40.020, the exemptions of this chapter 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. (2) Inspection or copying of any specific records exempt under the provisions of this chapter 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. (3) 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. [ 2005 c 274 s 402. Prior: (2006 c 302 s 11 expired July 1, 2006); (2006 c 75 s 2 expired July 1, 2006); (2006 c 8 s 111 expired July 1, 2006); (2003 1st sp.s. c 26 s 926 expired June 30, 2005); 2003 c 277 s 3; 2003 c 124 s 1; prior: 2002 c 335 s 1; 2002 c 224 s 2; 2002 c 205 s 4; 2002 c 172 s 1; prior: 2001 c 278 s 1; 2001 c 98 s 2; 2001 c 70 s 1; prior: 2000 c 134 s 3; 2000 c 56 s 1; 2000 c 6 s 5; prior: 1999 c 326 s 3; 1999 c 290 s 1; 1999 c 215 s 1; 1998 c 69 s 1; prior: 1997 c 310 s 2; 1997 c 274 s 8; 1997 c 250 s 7; 1997 c 239 s 4; 1997 c 220 s 120 (Referendum Bill No. 48, approved June 17, 1997); 1997 c 58 s 900; prior: 1996 c 305 s 2; 1996 c 253 s 302; 1996 c 191 s 88; 1996 c 80 s 1; 1995 c 267 s 6; prior: 1994 c 233 s 2; 1994 c 182 s 1; prior: 1993 c 360 s 2; 1993 c 320 s 9; 1993 c 280 s 35; prior: 1992 c 139 s 5; 1992 c 71 s 12; 1991 c 301 s 13; 1991 c 87 s 13; 1991 c 23 s 10; 1991 c 1 s 1; 1990 2nd ex.s. c 1 s 1103; 1990 c 256 s 1; prior: 1989 1st ex.s. c 9 s 407; 1989 c 352 s 7; 1989 c 279 s 23; 1989 c 238 s 1; 1989 c 205 s 20; 1989 c 189 s 3; 1989 c 11 s 12; prior: 1987 c 411 s 10; 1987 c 404 s 1; 1987 c 370 s 16; 1987 c 337 s 1; 1987 c 107 s 2; prior: 1986 c 299 s 25; 1986 c 276 s 7; 1985 c 414 s 8; 1984 c 143 s 21; 1983 c 133 s 10; 1982 c 64 s 1; 1977 ex.s. c 314 s 13; 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 82 s 5; 1975 1st ex.s. c 294 s 17; 1973 c 1 s 31 (Initiative Measure No. 276, approved November 7, 1972). Formerly RCW 42.17.310.] NOTES: *Reviser's note: RCW 42.56.230 Personal information. The following personal information is exempt from public inspection and copying under this chapter: (1) Personal information in any files maintained for students in public schools, patients or clients of public institutions or public health agencies, or welfare recipients; (2)(a) Personal information: (i) For a child enrolled in licensed child care in any files maintained by the department of children, youth, and families; (ii) For a child enrolled in a public or nonprofit program serving or pertaining to children, adolescents, or students, including but not limited to early learning or child care services, parks and recreation programs, youth development programs, and after-school programs; (iii) For a student enrolled or previously enrolled in a local education agency, in any records pertaining to the student, including correspondence; (iv) For the family members or guardians of a child who is subject to the exemption under this subsection (2) if the family member or guardian has the same last name as the child or if the family member or guardian resides at the same address as the child and disclosure of the family member's or guardian's information would result in disclosure of the personal information exempted under (a)(i) through (iii) of this subsection; or (v) For substitute caregivers who are licensed or approved to provide overnight care of children by the department of children, youth, and families. (b) Emergency contact information under this subsection (2) may be provided to appropriate authorities and medical personnel for the purpose of treating the individual during an emergency situation; (3) 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; (4) 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: (a) Be prohibited to such persons by RCW 84.08.210, 82.32.330, 84.40.020, 84.40.340, or any ordinance authorized under RCW 35.102.145; or (b) violate the taxpayer's right to privacy or result in unfair competitive disadvantage to the taxpayer; (5) Credit card numbers, debit card numbers, electronic check numbers, card expiration dates, or bank or other financial information as defined in RCW 9.35.005 including social security numbers, except when disclosure is expressly required by or governed by other law; (6) Personal and financial information related to a small loan or any system of authorizing a small loan in RCW 31.45.093; (7)(a) Any record or information used to prove identity, age, residential address, social security number, sex designation, or other personal information required to apply for, renew, or make changes to a driver's license, instruction permit, or identicard. (b) Information provided under RCW 46.20.111 that indicates that an applicant declined to register with the selective service system. (c) Any record pertaining to a vehicle license plate, driver's license, or identicard issued under RCW 46.08.066 that, alone or in combination with any other records, may reveal the identity of an individual, the sex designation of an individual, or reveal that an individual is or was, performing an undercover or covert law enforcement, confidential public health work, public assistance fraud, or child support investigative activity. This exemption does not prevent the release of the total number of vehicle license plates, drivers' licenses, or identicards that, under RCW 46.08.066, an agency or department has applied for, been issued, denied, returned, destroyed, lost, and reported for misuse. (d) Any record pertaining to a vessel registration issued under RCW 88.02.330 that, alone or in combination with any other records, may reveal the identity of an individual, or reveal that an individual is or was, performing an undercover or covert law enforcement activity. This exemption does not prevent the release of the total number of vessel registrations that, under RCW 88.02.330, an agency or department has applied for, been issued, denied, returned, destroyed, lost, and reported for misuse. Upon request by the legislature, the department of licensing shall provide a report to the legislature containing all of the information in (c) of this subsection (7) and this subsection (7)(d) that is subject to public disclosure; (8) All information related to individual claim resolution settlement agreements submitted to the board of industrial insurance appeals under RCW 51.04.063, other than final orders from the board of industrial insurance appeals. The board of industrial insurance appeals shall provide to the department of labor and industries copies of all final claim resolution settlement agreements; (9) Voluntarily submitted information contained in a database that is part of or associated with 911 emergency communications systems, or information contained or used in emergency notification systems as provided under RCW 38.52.575 and 38.52.577; (10) Information relating to a future voter, as provided in RCW 29A.08.725; (11) All information submitted by a person to the state, either directly or through a state-licensed gambling establishment, or Indian tribes, or tribal enterprises that own gambling operations or facilities with class III gaming compacts, as part of the self-exclusion program established in RCW 9.46.071 or 67.70.040 for people with a gambling problem or gambling disorder; (12) Names, addresses, or other personal information of individuals who participated in the bump-fire stock buy-back program under former RCW 43.43.920; (13) All personal and financial information concerning a player that is received or maintained by the state lottery or any contracted lottery vendor except the player's name and city or town of residence. Additional information may be released only in accordance with prior written permission from the player; (14) Information collected from individuals who have requested or previously requested changes to sex designation for vital records under chapter 70.58A RCW; and (15) The name and address of an employee provided to the employment security department by an employer for the notice required under RCW 49.45.020. [ 2026 c 86 s 3; 2026 c 56 s 1. Prior: 2023 c 361 s 14; 2023 c 346 s 1; 2023 c 182 s 2; 2021 c 89 s 1; prior: 2019 c 470 s 8; 2019 c 239 s 2; (2019 c 239 s 1 expired July 1, 2019); 2019 c 213 s 2; 2018 c 109 s 16; 2017 3rd sp.s. c 6 s 222; prior: 2015 c 224 s 2; 2015 c 47 s 1; 2014 c 142 s 1; prior: 2013 c 336 s 3; 2013 c 220 s 1; prior: 2011 c 350 s 2; 2011 c 173 s 1; 2010 c 106 s 102; 2009 c 510 s 8; 2008 c 200 s 5; 2005 c 274 s 403.] NOTES: Reviser's note: RCW 42.56.235 Religious affiliation exemption. All records that relate to or contain personally identifying information about an individual's religious beliefs, practices, or affiliation are exempt from disclosure under this chapter. [ 2018 c 303 s 7.] RCW 42.56.240 Investigative, law enforcement, and crime victims. The following investigative, law enforcement, and crime victim information is exempt from public inspection and copying under this chapter: (1) 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; (2) 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 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 commission about any elected official or candidate for public office must be made in writing and signed by the complainant under oath; (3) 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); (4) License applications under RCW 9.41.070, except that copies of license applications or information on the applications may be released to law enforcement or corrections agencies or to persons and entities as authorized under RCW 9.41.815; (5)(a) Information revealing the specific details that describe an alleged or proven child victim of sexual assault or commercial sexual exploitation under age 18, or the identity or contact information of an alleged or proven child victim of sexual assault or commercial sexual exploitation who is under age 18. Identifying information includes the child victim's name, addresses, location, photograph, and in cases in which the child victim is a relative, stepchild, or stepsibling of the alleged perpetrator, identification of the relationship between the child and the alleged perpetrator. Contact information includes phone numbers, email addresses, social media profiles, and user names and passwords. (b) For purposes of this subsection (5), "commercial sexual exploitation" has the same meaning as in RCW 7.105.010; (6) Information contained in a local or regionally maintained gang database as well as the statewide gang database referenced in RCW 43.43.762; (7) Data from the electronic sales tracking system established in RCW 69.43.165; (8) Information submitted to the statewide unified sex offender notification and registration program under RCW 36.28A.040(6) by a person for the purpose of receiving notification regarding a registered sex offender, including the person's name, residential address, and email address; (9) Personally identifying information collected by law enforcement agencies pursuant to local security alarm system programs and vacation crime watch programs. Nothing in this subsection shall be interpreted so as to prohibit the legal owner of a residence or business from accessing information regarding his or her residence or business; (10) The felony firearm offense conviction database of felony firearm offenders established in RCW 43.43.822; (11) The identity of a state employee or officer who has in good faith filed a complaint with an ethics board, as provided in RCW 42.52.410, or who has in good faith reported improper governmental action, as defined in RCW 42.40.020, to the auditor or other public official, as defined in RCW 42.40.020; (12) The following security threat group information collected and maintained by the department of corrections pursuant to RCW 72.09.745: (a) Information that could lead to the identification of a person's security threat group status, affiliation, or activities; (b) information that reveals specific security threats associated with the operation and activities of security threat groups; and (c) information that identifies the number of security threat group members, affiliates, or associates; (13) The global positioning system data that would indicate the location of the residence of an employee or worker of a criminal justice agency as defined in RCW 10.97.030; (14) Body worn camera recordings to the extent nondisclosure is essential for the protection of any person's right to privacy as described in RCW 42.56.050, including, but not limited to, the circumstances enumerated in (a) of this subsection. A law enforcement or corrections agency shall not disclose a body worn camera recording to the extent the recording is exempt under this subsection. (a) Disclosure of a body worn camera recording is presumed to be highly offensive to a reasonable person under RCW 42.56.050 to the extent it depicts: (i)(A) Any areas of a medical facility, counseling, or therapeutic program office where: (I) A patient is registered to receive treatment, receiving treatment, waiting for treatment, or being transported in the course of treatment; or (II) Health care information is shared with patients, their families, or among the care team; or (B) Information that meets the definition of protected health information for purposes of the health insurance portability and accountability act of 1996 or health care information for purposes of chapter 70.02 RCW; (ii) The interior of a place of residence where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy; (iii) An intimate image; (iv) A minor; (v) The body of a deceased person; (vi) The identity of or communications from a victim or witness of an incident involving domestic violence as defined in RCW 10.99.020 or sexual assault as defined in RCW 70.125.030, or disclosure of intimate images as defined in RCW 9A.86.010. If at the time of recording the victim or witness indicates a desire for disclosure or nondisclosure of the recorded identity or communications, such desire shall govern; or (vii) The identifiable location information of a community-based domestic violence program as defined in RCW 70.123.020, or emergency shelter as defined in RCW 70.123.020. (b) The presumptions set out in (a) of this subsection may be rebutted by specific evidence in individual cases. (c) In a court action seeking the right to inspect or copy a body worn camera recording, a person who prevails against a law enforcement or corrections agency that withholds or discloses all or part of a body worn camera recording pursuant to (a) of this subsection is not entitled to fees, costs, or awards pursuant to RCW 42.56.550 unless it is shown that the law enforcement or corrections agency acted in bad faith or with gross negligence. (d) A request for body worn camera recordings must: (i) Specifically identify a name of a person or persons involved in the incident; (ii) Provide the incident or case number; (iii) Provide the date, time, and location of the incident or incidents; or (iv) Identify a law enforcement or corrections officer involved in the incident or incidents. (e)(i) A person directly involved in an incident recorded by the requested body worn camera recording, an attorney representing a person directly involved in an incident recorded by the requested body worn camera recording, a person or his or her attorney who requests a body worn camera recording relevant to a criminal case involving that person, or the executive director from either the Washington state commission on African American affairs, Asian Pacific American affairs, or Hispanic affairs, has the right to obtain the body worn camera recording, subject to any exemption under this chapter or any applicable law. In addition, an attorney who represents a person regarding a potential or existing civil cause of action involving the denial of civil rights under the federal or state Constitution, or a violation of a United States department of justice settlement agreement, has the right to obtain the body worn camera recording if relevant to the cause of action, subject to any exemption under this chapter or any applicable law. The attorney must explain the relevancy of the requested body worn camera recording to the cause of action and specify that he or she is seeking relief from redaction costs under this subsection (14)(e). (ii) A law enforcement or corrections agency responding to requests under this subsection (14)(e) may not require the requesting individual to pay costs of any redacting, altering, distorting, pixelating, suppressing, or otherwise obscuring any portion of a body worn camera recording. (iii) A law enforcement or corrections agency may require any person requesting a body worn camera recording pursuant to this subsection (14)(e) to identify himself or herself to ensure he or she is a person entitled to obtain the body worn camera recording under this subsection (14)(e). (f)(i) A law enforcement or corrections agency responding to a request to disclose body worn camera recordings may require any requester not listed in (e) of this subsection to pay the reasonable costs of redacting, altering, distorting, pixelating, suppressing, or otherwise obscuring any portion of the body worn camera recording prior to disclosure only to the extent necessary to comply with the exemptions in this chapter or any applicable law. (ii) An agency that charges redaction costs under this subsection (14)(f) must use redaction technology that provides the least costly commercially available method of redacting body worn camera recordings, to the extent possible and reasonable. (iii) In any case where an agency charges a requestor for the costs of redacting a body worn camera recording under this subsection (14)(f), the time spent on redaction of the recording shall not count towards the agency's allocation of, or limitation on, time or costs spent responding to public records requests under this chapter, as established pursuant to local ordinance, policy, procedure, or state law. (g) For purposes of this subsection (14): (i) "Body worn camera recording" means a video and/or sound recording that is made by a body worn camera attached to the uniform or eyewear of a law enforcement or corrections officer while in the course of his or her official duties; and (ii) "Intimate image" means an individual or individuals engaged in sexual activity, including sexual intercourse as defined in RCW 9A.44.010 and masturbation, or an individual's intimate body parts, whether nude or visible through less than opaque clothing, including the genitals, pubic area, anus, or postpubescent female nipple. (h) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to restrict access to body worn camera recordings as otherwise permitted by law for official or recognized civilian and accountability bodies or pursuant to any court order. (i) Nothing in this section is intended to modify the obligations of prosecuting attorneys and law enforcement under Brady v. Maryland, RCW 42.56.250 Employment and licensing. (Effective until June 1, 2028.) (1) The following employment and licensing information is exempt from public inspection and copying under this chapter: (a) Test questions, scoring keys, and other examination data used to administer a license, employment, or academic examination; (b) All applications for public employment other than for vacancies in elective office, including the names of applicants, resumes, and other related materials submitted with respect to an applicant; (c) Professional growth plans (PGPs) in educator license renewals submitted through the eCert system in the office of the superintendent of public instruction; (d) The following information held by any public agency in personnel records, public employment related records, volunteer rosters, or included in any mailing list of employees or volunteers of any public agency: Residential addresses, residential telephone numbers, personal wireless telephone numbers, personal email addresses, social security numbers, driver's license numbers, identicard numbers, payroll deductions including the amount and identification of the deduction, and emergency contact information of employees or volunteers of a public agency, and the names, dates of birth, residential addresses, residential telephone numbers, personal wireless telephone numbers, personal email addresses, social security numbers, and emergency contact information of dependents of employees or volunteers of a public agency. For purposes of this subsection (1)(d), "employees" includes independent provider home care workers as defined in RCW 74.39A.240; (e) 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; (f)(i) Except as provided in (f)(ii) of this subsection, investigative records compiled by an employing agency in connection with an investigation of a possible unfair practice under chapter 49.60 RCW or of a possible violation of other federal, state, or local laws or an employing agency's internal policies prohibiting discrimination or harassment in employment. Records are exempt in their entirety while the investigation is active and ongoing. After the agency has notified the complaining employee of the outcome of the investigation, the records may be disclosed only if the names, images, employee agency job titles, email addresses, and phone numbers of complainants, other accusers, and witnesses are redacted and their voices on any audio recording taken during the course of the investigation have been altered while retaining inflection and tone, except to the extent that such a complainant, other accuser, or witness has consented to the disclosure of such information. The employing agency must inform a complainant, other accuser, or witness that his or her name, image, agency job title, email address, and phone number will be redacted from the investigation records and their voice on any audio recording taken during the course of the investigation will be altered in accordance with this subsection unless he or she consents to disclosure; (ii) After the investigation is complete and the complainant has been notified of the outcome of the investigation, if an elected government official is a complainant, the name and title of such elected government official shall not be redacted from the investigatory records; (g) Criminal history records checks for board staff finalist candidates conducted pursuant to RCW 43.33A.025; (h) Photographs and month and year of birth in the personnel files of employees or volunteers of a public agency, including employees and workers of criminal justice agencies as defined in RCW 10.97.030. The news media, as defined in RCW 5.68.010(5), shall have access to the photographs and full date of birth. For the purposes of this subsection (1)(h), news media does not include any person or organization of persons in the custody of a criminal justice agency as defined in RCW 10.97.030; (i)(i) Any employee's name or other personally identifying information, including but not limited to birthdate, job title, addresses of work stations and locations, work email address, work phone number, bargaining unit, or other similar information, maintained by an agency in personnel-related records or systems, or responsive to a request for a list of individuals subject to the commercial purpose prohibition under RCW 42.56.070(8), if the employee: (A) Has provided a sworn statement, signed under penalty of perjury and verified by the director of the employing agency or director's designee, that the employee or a dependent of the employee is a survivor of domestic violence as defined in RCW 10.99.020 or 7.105.010, sexual assault as defined in RCW 70.125.030 or sexual abuse as defined in RCW 7.105.010, stalking as described in RCW 9A.46.110 or defined in RCW 7.105.010, or harassment as described in RCW 9A.46.020 or defined in RCW 7.105.010, and notifying the agency as to why the employee has a reasonable basis to believe that the risk of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual abuse, stalking, or harassment continues to exist. A sworn statement under this subsection expires after two years, b