Legislators/state facilities

AN ACT Relating to providing access for legislators to facilities 1
owned and operated by the state; and adding a new section to chapter 2
72.01 RCW. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 72.01 5
RCW to read as follows: 6
(1) Any currently elected member of the legislature may request 7
to access the premises of any facility or institution owned and 8
operated by the state by the department of corrections, department of 9
children, youth, and families, or department of social and health 10
services. Such access shall be afforded by the department upon 11
request of the member within 48 hours of receipt of the member's 12
written request to access the state facility, which shall not be 13
limited to business days. Access includes, but is not limited to, a 14
tour of the state facility or to meet with a constituent under their 15
custody. 16
(2) If the member requests to access a state facility at a date 17
beyond 48 hours from the date of the request, the department shall 18
provide a response within 48 hours of receipt of the member's 19
request. 20
S-0660.1
SENATE BILL 5342
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators Christian and Frame
Read first time 01/17/25. Referred to Committee on Human Services.
p. 1 SB 5342
(3) If an agency listed under this section fails to comply with 1
the timing requirements under subsection (1) of this section, it 2
shall respond to the member of the legislature with the reason for 3
the delay and a plan to facilitate the access request.4
(4) Requests made under this section shall be submitted in 5
writing to the legislative affairs office for the department, or an 6
office designated by the secretary of the department to receive such 7
requests. 8
(5) The requirements of this section do not apply to facilities 9
owned and operated by local governments or facilities operated under 10
contract with the state. 11
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p. 2 SB 5342