Washington Task Force Suggests New Records Office
From Sunshine Review
[edit] January 5, 2010
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Olympia, WA On Tuesday November 2, the Washington state open records task force announced that it would endorse a new Office of Open Records, which when created by the legislature, would handle open records disputes and reduce the need for pursuing remedies through the judiciary. The Office would be modeled after open records offices in other states, including Pennsylvania and Connecticut. While their function was merely advisory, the committee hopes that the four legislators on the committee will endorse and sponsor a bill to create the office sometime in the near future.[1]
[edit] Update
The proposed Records Office will not be implemented in the following fiscal year. Bills introduced in the house and senate died in committee prior to the February 5 cutoff date for non-financial bills. Financial struggles were cited as the rational for killing the office, which would cost the state a proposed $1.3 million.[2]
[edit] Other supporters
Washington Governor Christine Gregoire has also announced her support for a new records office but fears that it will not happen this year due to budget considerations. To read more, please see: The Daily World, "Governor supports open records office"
Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna has jumped on the bandwagon and is pushing for the establishment of a new records office. McKenna called for the agenda claiming, "State agencies and local governments face a logjam of citizen complaints, costly litigation over the Public Records Act and the Open Public Meetings Act, and uncertainty regarding potential liability that may require payment of attorneys' fees, costs, and daily penalties. All of this impacts ever-shrinking budgets, forcing government to cut other vital services to comply,".[3]
[edit] Controversy on the committee
The task force was created by Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna and Democratic state Auditor Brian Sonntag with the intention of investigating new methods for enforcing and uphold the Washington Public Records Act. While it unanimously agreed to endorse the new Office, many committee members voiced concern about founding a new office within the current economy and the budget woes the state of Washington. Further, one committee member, attorney Craig Ritchie, suggested including incentives to use the Office in order to reduce disclosure and legal costs for public agencies. [1]
[edit] Other recommendations
The committee was split as to the recommended structure of the Office, with 10 favoring appointment of a director and 5 favoring the election of commissioners. The committee also failed to endorse mandatory use of the Office, with a 13-3 making use of the Office optional.[1]
[edit] See also
[edit] External Links
[edit] References
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- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The News Tribune, "New state agency suggested to handle records disputes"
- ↑ The Daily World, "Open records dispute resolution center bill dies"
- ↑ Legal News Line, "McKenna seeks public records overhaul"
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