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 § 6; 2017 c 303 § 1; 2010 c 204 § 1005; 2007 c 197 § 1; 2005 c 274 § 101.]
NOTES:
Findings—Intent—2022 c 71: See note following RCW 28B.10.930.
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 42 - Public Officers and Agencies
Chapter 42.56 - Public Records Act.
42.56.040 - Duty to publish procedures.
42.56.050 - Invasion of privacy, when.
42.56.060 - Disclaimer of public liability.
42.56.070 - Documents and indexes to be made public—Statement of costs.
42.56.080 - Identifiable records—Facilities for copying—Availability of public records.
42.56.090 - Times for inspection and copying—Posting on website.
42.56.100 - Protection of public records—Public access.
42.56.110 - Destruction of information relating to employee misconduct.
42.56.120 - Charges for copying.
42.56.130 - Other provisions not superseded.
42.56.140 - Public records exemptions accountability committee.
42.56.150 - Training—Local elected and statewide elected officials.
42.56.152 - Training—Public records officers.
42.56.155 - Assistance by attorney general.
42.56.210 - Certain personal and other records exempt.
42.56.230 - Personal information.
42.56.235 - Religious affiliation exemption.
42.56.240 - Investigative, law enforcement, and crime victims.
42.56.250 - Employment and licensing.
42.56.260 - Real estate transactions.
42.56.270 - Financial, commercial, and proprietary information.
42.56.280 - Preliminary drafts, notes, recommendations, intra-agency memorandums.
42.56.290 - Agency party to controversy.
42.56.300 - Archaeological sites.
42.56.315 - Certain student information.
42.56.320 - Educational information.
42.56.325 - Statewide electronic repository for school meals.
42.56.330 - Public utilities and transportation.
42.56.350 - Health professionals.
42.56.355 - Interstate medical licensure compact.
42.56.380 - Agriculture and livestock.
42.56.390 - Emergency or transitional housing.
42.56.400 - Insurance and financial institutions.
42.56.403 - Property and casualty insurance statements of actuarial opinion.
42.56.410 - Employment security department records, certain purposes.
42.56.422 - Office of cybersecurity—Reports and information.
42.56.430 - Fish and wildlife.
42.56.440 - Veterans' discharge papers—Exceptions.
42.56.450 - Check cashers and sellers licensing applications.
42.56.460 - Fireworks and explosives.
42.56.470 - Correctional industries workers.
42.56.475 - Department of corrections.
42.56.510 - Duty to disclose or withhold information—Otherwise provided.
42.56.520 - Prompt responses required.
42.56.530 - Review of agency denial.
42.56.540 - Court protection of public records.
42.56.550 - Judicial review of agency actions.
42.56.560 - Application of RCW 42.56.550.
42.56.565 - Inspection or copying by persons serving criminal sentences—Injunction.
42.56.570 - Explanatory pamphlet—Advisory model rules—Consultation and training services.
42.56.580 - Public records officers.
42.56.590 - Personal information—Notice of security breaches.
42.56.592 - Personal information—Covered entities.
42.56.594 - Personal information—Consumer protection.
42.56.600 - Mediation communications.
42.56.610 - Certain information from dairies and feedlots limited—Rules.
42.56.615 - Enumeration data used by the office of financial management for population estimates.
42.56.620 - Cannabis research licensee reports.
42.56.625 - Medical cannabis authorization database.
42.56.640 - Vulnerable individuals, in-home caregivers for vulnerable populations.
42.56.645 - Release of public information—2017 c 4 (Initiative Measure No. 1501).
42.56.650 - Health carrier data.
42.56.655 - Explosives exemption report.
42.56.660 - Agency employee records.
42.56.665 - Agency employee records—Civil liability.
42.56.670 - Agency employee records—Model policies.
42.56.675 - Agency employee records—Lists of names.
42.56.680 - Residential real property information and borrower personal information.
42.56.690 - Victim and witness notification program.