Sunshine Committee

Voters approved the Public Disclosure Act by initiative in 1972. At the time, the Act included only 10 exemptions from disclosure. As of 2016, there are over 500 exemptions in the Revised Code of Washington.

The Attorney General’s Office requested a bill to establish a Blue-Ribbon Committee to review all exemptions to the Public Disclosure Act. Senate Bill 5435, which created the Public Records Exemptions Accountability Committee (Sunshine Committee), became law on July 22, 2007. The Sunshine Committee makes recommendations to the Legislature to repeal or amend exemptions to the Public Records Act.

Public testimony regarding exemptions the Sunshine Committee is currently considering is welcome. If you are unable to give your testimony in person, you may do so online or by mail using the contact form linked below.

To ensure inclusion in the written information provided to the Committee, online and mailed comments must be received two business days prior to the next scheduled meeting.

CONTACT THE SUNSHINE COMMITTEE

Staff contact: Elaine Ganga

Next Meeting:

What: Public Records Exemptions Accountability Committee (Sunshine Committee)
When: August 23, 2022
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Where: GoToWebinar ( https://global.gotowebinar.com/join/3208648031698244364/620070911) and Lacey Community Center, 6729 Pacific Avenue SE, Olympia, WA 98503
Materials: Agenda

To view the meeting via GoToWebinar, click on the link below:
https://global.gotowebinar.com/join/3208648031698244364/620070911

To join by phone to listen only:
Dial 1-562-247-8422; Access Code 186-753-410

If you would like to provide public comment, you may do so in-person at the Lacey Community Center, located at 6729 Pacific Avenue SE, Lacey, WA 98503 or virtually via GoToWebinar. You may also provide written comments via email at SunshineCommittee@atg.wa.gov. If you have any questions, please contact committee staff at (360) 280-5370.

Previous Meeting Materials (Agendas, Minutes, Video Recordings)