State historical records

AN ACT Relating to the preservation and inspection of state 1
historical records; amending RCW 40.14.030; and amending 2024 c 134 s 2
2 (uncodified). 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. 2024 c 134 s 2 (uncodified) is amended to read as 5
follows: 6
(1) The division of archives and records management, working with 7
the University of Washington institute on human development and 8
disability, the department of social and health services, and the 9
department of archaeology and historic preservation, shall create a 10
preservation plan to organize, catalogue, and store the historical 11
documents and artifacts identified at Lakeland Village, a state-12
operated facility. Historical documents and artifacts may include but 13
are not limited to medical records, letters, images, films, and 14
artifacts of past residents with intellectual or developmental 15
disabilities at Lakeland Village. 16
(2) The preservation plan shall: 17
(a) Identify all the records and artifacts that are available and 18
at risk of destruction; 19
(b) Assess the condition of the records and artifacts and level 20
of preservation required, including but not limited to the age of the 21
H-2593.1
HOUSE BILL 2252
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Farivar, Barnard, Reed, Thomas, and Hill
Prefiled 01/05/26. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on State Government & Tribal Relations.
p. 1 HB 2252
record, the material used, and environmental conditions in which the 1
items have been stored; 2
(c) Outline the steps that will be taken to preserve the records 3
and artifacts. This includes how the records will be stored, where 4
they will be stored, how they will be handled and transported, and 5
how they will be restored if they are in danger of falling into 6
disrepair, dysfunction, or destruction. The plan must also include 7
how the records will be catalogued, digitized, and transferred to 8
archival microfilm for long-term access; and 9
(d) Include a timeline for the preservation work and an overall 10
budget for the work. The plan must be reported to the appropriate 11
committees of the legislature by September 1, 2025.12
(3) The plan described in this section must also include future 13
plans for public access for historical and educational purposes.14
(4) The division of archives and records management and the 15
department of social and health services shall work together in 16
storing and retaining the records described in this act, from 17
Lakeland Village. No records shall be destroyed until ((the 18
preservation plan is completed and the work is funded during )) fiscal 19
year ((2026)) 2030. 20
(5) Indirect costs to the University of Washington for this 21
project are limited to 15 percent. 22
Sec. 2. RCW 40.14.030 and 2011 c 336 s 817 are each amended to 23
read as follows: 24
(1) All public records, not required in the current operation of 25
the office where they are made or kept, and all records of every 26
agency, commission, committee, or any other activity of state 27
government which may be abolished or discontinued, shall be 28
transferred to the state archives so that the valuable historical 29
records of the state may be centralized, made more widely available, 30
and insured permanent preservation: PROVIDED, That this section shall 31
have no application to public records approved for destruction under 32
the subsequent provisions of this chapter. 33
When so transferred, copies of the public records concerned shall 34
be made and certified by the archivist, which certification shall 35
have the same force and effect as though made by the officer 36
originally in charge of them. Fees may be charged to cover the cost 37
of reproduction. In turning over the archives of his or her office, 38
the officer in charge thereof, or his or her successor, thereby loses 39
p. 2 HB 2252
none of his or her rights of access to them, without charge, whenever 1
necessary. 2
(2) Records that are confidential, privileged, or exempt from 3
public disclosure under state or federal law while in the possession 4
of the originating agency, commission, board, committee, or other 5
entity of state or local government retain their confidential, 6
privileged, or exempt status after transfer to the state archives 7
unless the archivist, with the concurrence of the originating 8
jurisdiction, determines that the records must be made accessible to 9
the public according to proper and reasonable rules adopted by the 10
secretary of state ((, in which case the records may be open to 11
inspection and available for copying after the expiration of seventy-12
five years from creation of the record. If the originating 13
jurisdiction is no longer in existence, the archivist shall make the 14
determination of availability according to such rules. If, while in 15
the possession of the originating agency, commission, board, 16
committee, or other entity, any record is determined to be 17
confidential, privileged, or exempt from public disclosure under 18
state or federal law for a period of less than seventy-five years, 19
then the record, with the concurrence of the originating 20
jurisdiction, must be made accessible to the public upon the 21
expiration of the shorter period of time according to proper and 22
reasonable rules adopted by the secretary of state )). After the 23
expiration of 75 years from creation of the record, any restricted 24
record that is transferred to archives under this chapter is open to 25
inspection and available for copying.26
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p. 3 HB 2252