WAC
356-07-010 Purpose.
356-07-020 Public records--WritingsDefined.
356-07-030 Description and location of departmental organization.
356-07-040 General method of operation.
356-07-050 Office hours.
356-07-055 Records index.
356-07-060 Records availability--Copies obtained.
356-07-070 Exemptions--Public records.
WAC 356-07-010 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter shall be to ensure compliance by the department of personnel with the provisions of chapter 42.17 RCW, Disclosure-Campaign finances-Lobbying-Records; and in particular with sections 25 through 32 of that act [RCW 42.17.250 through 42.17.350], dealing with public records.
[Order 60, § 356-08-010 (codified as WAC 356-07-010), filed 12/13/73.]
WAC 356-07-020 Public records--WritingsDefined. (1) "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.
(2) "Writing" means handwriting, typewriting, printing, photostating, photographing, and every other means of recording any form of communication or representation, including letters, words, pictures, sounds; or symbols, or combination thereof, and all papers, maps, magnetic or paper tapes, photographic films and prints, magnetic or punched cards, discs, drums and other documents.
(3) Both "public records" and "writings" as described in subsections (1) and (2) of this section are the property of the state of Washington and, in accordance with chapter 40.14 RCW, require the authority of the state records committee before their disposal may be accomplished.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.06.150. 84-04-022 (Order 197), § 356-07-020, filed 1/24/84; Order 60, § 356-08-020 (codified as WAC 356-07-020), filed 12/13/73.]
WAC 356-07-030 Description and location of departmental organization. (1) The central office of the Department of Personnel is located at 521 Capitol Way S., Olympia, Washington. The staff at this location provides personnel services regarding affirmative action, recruitment, examination, examination development, certification, classification, hearings, compensation, salary surveys, compensation plan administration, research services, special projects, departmental fiscal management, facilities, word processing support.
(2) The staff located at 600 South Franklin Street, Olympia, Washington, provides labor relations services and appeal hearings, consultation on human resource development activities to agencies, training which is interagency in scope, and guidelines for agency planning and evaluation of human resource development.
(3) The staff at the following locations provides employee advisory services: 3400 Capitol Boulevard, Olympia, Washington; 2825 Eastlake Avenue E., Suite 310, Seattle, Washington; and at 4407 Division, Suite 210, Spokane, Washington.
(4) The staff located at Building #1, Rowesix, Lacey, Washington, administers the central personnel/payroll and insurance eligibility computer systems.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.06.150. 98-19-034, § 356-07-030, filed 9/10/98, effective 10/12/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.06.040 and 41.06.150. 90-07-056 (Order 341), § 356-07-030, filed 3/20/90, effective 5/1/90. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.06.150(17). 82-09-022 (Order 169), § 356-07-030, filed 4/12/82; 78-05-025 (Order 119), § 356-07-030, filed 4/14/78; Order 60, § 356-08-030 (codified as WAC 356-07-030), filed 12/13/73.]
WAC 356-07-040 General method of operation. (1) The general conduct of agency business is pursuant to the charter established in chapters 41.06 and 41.05 RCW, and Title 356 WAC.
(2) Provisions for all interested parties to participate in formulation of rules governing administration of the law is assured by a twenty-day notice requirement prerequisite to formal action being taken by the board or the director on any jurisdictional matter, except appeals.
(3) Special meetings may be called by the board or the director subject to twenty-four hour notice, as required by law.
(4) Informal work sessions with interested parties are conducted by staff of the department of personnel as necessary to ensure representation from interested parties before proposals are made to the board or the director.
(5) All business of the department of personnel will be conducted in facilities which are accessible and/or in a manner which reasonably accommodates the needs of persons of disability.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.06.150. 04-15-018, § 356-07-040, filed 7/8/04, effective 8/8/04; 98-19-034, § 356-07-040, filed 9/10/98, effective 10/12/98; 87-02-038 (Order 267), § 356-07-040, filed 1/2/87; Order 60, § 356-08-040 (codified as WAC 356-07-040), filed 12/13/73.]
WAC 356-07-050 Office hours. Public records shall be available for inspection and copying during the customary office hours of the department of personnel. For the purposes of this chapter, the customary office hours shall be from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays.
[Order 60, § 356-08-050 (codified as WAC 356-07-050), filed 12/13/73.]
WAC 356-07-055 Records index. (1) A public records index shall be maintained for all records which fall within the requirements of RCW 42.17.260.
(2) The index shall include a short title, brief description, the time period covered, the physical location and the custodial division for each record.
(3) The index will be updated on a continual basis as needed.
(4) Copies of the index will be made available at no charge upon request to the public records officer for the agency.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.06.040 and 41.06.150. 91-02-027 (Order 363), § 356-07-055, filed 12/24/90, effective 2/1/91.]
WAC 356-07-060 Records availability--Copies obtained. (1) Subject to WAC 356-07-070, copies of all public records defined in WAC 356-07-020 and identified in current indexes maintained in the Olympia office of the department of personnel shall be made available upon request to the staff member designated by the director or his designee. Response to such requests will be in the order received.
(2) No fee will be charged for inspection of public records. Inspection will be during office hours in a space provided by the director and must be accomplished without excessive interference with the essential functions of the agency.
(3) Copies of records will be made available at not more than actual cost to the department of personnel as determined by the director. Rules and regulations will be made available without charge.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.06.040 and 41.06.150. 91-02-027 (Order 363), § 356-07-060, filed 12/24/90, effective 2/1/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.06.150. 87-02-038 (Order 267), § 356-07-060, filed 1/2/87; Order 60, § 356-08-060 (codified as WAC 356-07-060), filed 12/13/73.]
WAC 356-07-070 Exemptions--Public records. (1) The department of personnel shall determine which public records requested in accordance with these rules are exempt under the provisions of RCW 42.17.310.
(2) Pursuant to RCW 42.17.260, the department of personnel may delete identifying details when it makes available or publishes any public record and in any cases when there is reason to believe that disclosure of such details would be an invasion of personal privacy protected by chapter 42.17 RCW. The public records officer or a designated staff member will fully justify such deletion in writing.
(3) Denials of requests for public records must be accompanied by a written statement specifying the reason for the denial. A statement of the specific exemption in chapter 42.17 RCW authorizing withholding the record and a brief explanation of how the exemption applies to the record withheld will be included.
(4) Denials of requests for public records will be reviewed by the director within two working days.
[Order 60, § 356-08-070 (codified as WAC 356-07-070), filed 12/13/73.]