“Sunshine Committee” sets agenda for first meeting

OLYMPIA…The Office of the Attorney General announced today that the agenda has been set for the first meeting of the Public Records Exemptions Accountability Committee or “Sunshine Committee.”  The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, Aug. 28 in House Hearing Room C in the John L. O’Brien on the Capitol Campus.  Campus Map

The Public Disclosure Act was approved by voters by initiative in 1972. At the time, only 10 exemptions from disclosure were included. Today there are nearly 300 exemptions in existence.

McKenna requested the legislation creating the Public Records Exemptions Accountability Committee during the 2007 session. The committee will annually review all exemptions, including newly-passed ones and to recommend repeal or amendment of exemptions to the Public Records Act.

Agenda
9 - 9:30 am: Welcome, Introductions and Comments                 
» Attorney General McKenna
» Roselyn Marcus on behalf of Governor Gregoire
» Members of the Sunshine Committee

9:30 – 10:30 am: Committee Discussion                                 
» Approval of Agenda
      - Proposed amendments to agenda
» Establish Regular Meeting Date and Time
» Substitute Senate Bill 5435
» Code Reviser’s List of Public Disclosure Exemptions
» Open Public Meetings Act – Requirements for Committees
» Initiative Measure 276 (1972)
» Criteria for reviewing exemptions and exclusions
» Exemptions and exclusions for Future Committee Consideration

10:30 – 11 am: Public Comment                                          

11 – 11:50 am: Committee Discussion (continued)               
» Exemptions and exclusions for Future Committee Consideration

11:50 am – Noon: Committee Assignments and Next Steps                 

Noon: Adjourn                                                      

Members of the Sunshine Committee:
Thomas Carr, Seattle city attorney (Chair – appointment by Gov. Gregoire)
Senator Adam Kline (Appointed by Senate Democratic Caucus)
Senator Pam Roach (Appointed by Senate Republican Caucus)
Rep. Lynn Kessler (Appointed by House Democratic Caucus)
Rep. Jay Rodne (Appointed by House Republican Caucus)
Tim Ford, Assistant Attorney General (Appointed by Attorney General Rob McKenna)
John Hughes, Editor & Publisher of The Daily World (Appointed by Attorney General Rob McKenna)
Ken Bunting, Associate Publisher, Seattle P-I (Appointed by State Auditor Brian Sonntag)
Frank Garred (Appointed by Gov. Gregoire)
Roselyn Marcus, Office of Financial Management (Appointed by Gov. Gregoire)
Patience Rogge, Friends of Fort Worden (Appointed by Gov. Gregoire)
Candy Jackson, N.A.T.I.V.E. Project (Appointed by Gov. Gregoire)
Ramsey Ramerman, Foster Pepper PLLC (Appointed by Gov. Gregoire)

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Media Contact:      J. Ryan Shannon, Media Relations Manager, (360) 753-2727