Washington Administrative Code › Title 390 - Public Disclosure Commission › Chapter 390-14 - Access to public records of the public disclosure commission › Section 390-14-011 - Purpose of this chapter - To implement the Public Records Act and describe the commission

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) The purpose
			 of chapter 390-14 WAC is to establish the commission's procedures to provide
			 full access to its public records and to implement the provisions of the Public
			 Records Act under
			 chapter
			 42.56 RCW for the
			 commission.
(2) The commission
			 implements and enforces chapter 42.17A RCW, the laws governing campaign
			 finance, lobbying, reporting by public treasurers, and personal financial
			 affairs disclosures. A description of the commission organization, general
			 operations and procedures is under chapter 390-12 WAC. More information is
			 located on its web site at
www.pdc.wa.gov
.
			 The commission does not implement or enforce the Public Records Act for other
			 public agencies.
(3) If you wish to
			 obtain general information or copies of records, you do not need to submit a
			 formal public records request. You will often find such information on the
			 commission's web site, or you may make an informal routine inquiry by
			 contacting the commission office.
(a) The
			 commission is a disclosure agency. The commission is required to operate a web
			 site. Therefore, the commission routinely places numerous categories of records
			 on its web site. You are strongly encouraged to review the web site prior to
			 making a public records request. The web site provides records and other
			 information that can be viewed at no cost, including: The agency's
			 organizational chart; contact information; statutes; rules and rule-making
			 activity; final orders; enforcement case information and records; declaratory
			 orders; interpretive statements; external policies; manuals; fact books;
			 brochures; videos; commission meeting agendas, materials, and minutes;
			 strategic plans; reports; campaign finance data, reports, and forms; lobbying
			 data, reports and forms; other forms and reports; news releases; and, filer
			 information. Information on the web site is updated regularly.
(b) You may also contact the commission
			 office to make an informal routine inquiry for a record.
(i) For example, informal routine inquiries
			 generally seek a particular form, brochure, manual, report, lobbyist directory,
			 or other similar readily available record specifically filed or created for the
			 public under chapter 42.17A RCW and they can often be responded to on the same
			 or next business day by providing the record. Informal routine inquiries do not
			 seek a record that includes any exempt information, require any clarification,
			 require providing records in installments, or require a search of different
			 types of agency records or records sent to storage. In addition, informal
			 routine inquiries do not provide any fair notice that the inquiry is a formal
			 public records request submitted under the Public Records Act under
			 chapter
			 42.56 RCW.
(ii) If your informal routine inquiry
			 concerns a record or information on the commission's web site, agency staff may
			 direct you to its online location.
(iii) Informal routine inquiries are not
			 subject to the time periods or other procedures in the Public Records
			 Act.