(1) No fee shall be charged for the inspection of public records or for locating public records and making them available for copying. However, the department may charge fees for copying and providing copies of public records. Such fees will not exceed the rates established in RCW 42.56.120, as amended by section 3, chapter 304, Laws of 2017.

(2) Pursuant to RCW 42.56.120, as amended by section 3, chapter 304, Laws of 2017, the department declares for the following reasons that it would be unduly burdensome to calculate the actual costs of copying and providing copies of public records: Department resources were not allocated for performing a study to calculate the actual costs; the department lacks the necessary resources to perform such a study and calculations; and such a study would interfere with and disrupt other essential department functions.