The purpose of this chapter is to ensure compliance by the Washington state historical society with the provisions of chapter 27.34 RCW and RCW 42.17.250 through 42.17.348.

The Washington state historical society is authorized by chapter 27.34 RCW to adopt rules under the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW.

The society is a statewide membership organization that provides leadership in public historical education. It collects, preserves, and interprets materials exemplifying the history of the state. The society's mission guides its acquisitions, collections management, exhibitions and publications. To serve the citizens of Washington, the geographic emphasis for the society is the entire state, but for contextual purposes, the history of the northern American West and north Pacific regions, broadly conceived, fall within the scope of the society's concerns. Chronologically, the full sweep of human history in Washington is the society's arena, from initial habitation by the native peoples to the modern era.

The governing board of the society is its board of trustees which consists of officers, trustees and ex-officio members. The elective officers of the society shall be president, vice president for eastern Washington, vice president for western Washington, and treasurer. The director of the society serves as the secretary to the board of trustees. The trustees number not less than twenty and no more than thirty. The governor, secretary of state, superintendent of public instruction and legislators representing each of the four caucuses of the state legislature are ex officio voting members of the board of trustees.

Election shall be by mail ballot to all qualified members of the society. Officers and trustees are elected to serve for three years, no more than ten to be elected annually. Trustees shall serve no more than three consecutive three-year terms. A majority of all ballots cast shall be necessary to elect.

The administrative headquarters of the Washington state historical society is located at the Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402, (253) 272-3500. The office is open each day for the transaction of business from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays.

All public records of the society are available for public inspection and copying pursuant to these rules, except as otherwise provided by RCW 42.17.310.

The society’s public records shall be in the charge of the public records officer designated by the executive director. The person so designated shall be located in the office. The public records officer shall be responsible for the following: The implementation of society policy in regard to the release of public records, coordinating the staff in this regard and generally insuring staff compliance with the public disclosure requirements of chapter 42.17 RCW.

Public records shall be available for inspection and copying from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays.

In accordance with the requirements of chapter 42.17 RCW, stipulating that agencies prevent unreasonable invasion of privacy, protect public records from damage or disorganization and prevent excessive interference with essential functions of the agency, public records may be inspected or copied, or copies of such records may be obtained, by members of the public upon compliance with the following procedures.

(1) A request shall be made in writing and shall be presented to the public records officer, or to another designated member of the staff if the public records officer is not available at the Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402. The request shall include the following information:

(a) The name of the person requesting the record;

(b) The time and date on which the request was made;

(c) The nature of the request;

(d) If the matter requested is referenced within the current index maintained by the public records officer, a reference to the requested records as it is described in such current index;

(e) If the requested matter is not identifiable by reference to the current index, an appropriate description of the record requested.

(2) The public records officer, or staff person assisting the member of the public making the request, will ascertain whether or not the information requested is exempt from public inspection and copying as defined in RCW 42.17.310.

(3) Only after a determination has been made that all or such portion of a public record as is not deleted may be inspected shall such public record or portion thereof be made available for inspection by a member of the public.

(4) In all cases, it shall be the obligation of the public records officer, or staff person to whom the request is made, to:

(a) Locate the specific document(s) request by the member of the public in the most timely manner possible;

(b) Assist the member of the public in appropriately identifying the public record requested;

(c) Protect and otherwise prevent damage to the public record being inspected and copied;

(d) Prevent disorganization of file folders or document containers;

(e) Remain in the company of the member of the public at all times during which a public document is being inspected, and provide the fullest assistance possible;

(f) Prevent excessive interference with the other essential functions of the agency.

(5) Only the staff and trustees of the society may open files to gain access to society records.

(6) No public record of the society may be taken from the premises of the society by a member of the public.

(7) Public inspection of society records shall be done only in such locations as are approved by the public records officer, which locations must provide an opportunity for staff to ensure that no public record of the society is damaged, destroyed, unreasonably disorganized or removed from its proper location or order by a member of the public.

(8) Public records of the society may be copied only on the copying machine of the society unless other arrangements are authorized by the public records officer.

No fee shall be charged for inspection of public records. The society shall charge a fee of ten cents per page for copies of public records and the use of society copy equipment. This charge is the amount necessary to reimburse the society for its actual cost incident to such copying. In the event copies are requested of documents that are oversized or require special handling, the society may increase the per page cost for copying and shall provide a statement of the factors and the manner used to determine the increased cost. If the public records officer deems it more efficient to have the copying done outside of the society, the charges will be based on the actual costs of such outside copying service. For all copying service charges incurred, an invoice will be sent to the requester. Reimbursement is payable within fifteen days of receipt of invoice payable to the Washington state historical society.

(1) The society reserves the right to determine that a public record requested in accordance with the procedures outlined in WAC 255-01-100 is exempt under the provisions of RCW 42.17.310.

(2) Pursuant to RCW 42.17.260, the society reserves the right to delete identifying details when it makes available or publishes any public record in any cases where there is reason to believe that disclosure of such details would be an invasion of personal privacy protected by chapter 42.17 RCW. The public records officer will justify such deletion in writing.

(3) All denials of request for public records must be accompanied by a written statement specifying the reason for the denial, including a statement of the specific exemption authorizing the withholding of the record and a brief explanation of how the exemption applies to the withheld record.

(1) Any person who objects to the denial of a request for a public record may petition for prompt review of such decision by rendering a written request for review. The written request shall specifically refer to the written statement by the public records officer or other staff person which constituted or accompanied the denial.

(2) Immediately after receiving a written request or review of a decision denying a public record, the public records officer or other staff person denying the request shall refer it to the executive director or designee. The executive director shall immediately consider the matter and either affirm or reverse such denial. In any case, the request shall be returned with a final decision, within two days following the written request for review of the original denial. Whenever possible, the executive director or designee shall first consult with the office of the attorney general.

(3) Administrative remedies shall not be considered exhausted until the executive director has returned the petition with a decision or until the close of the second business day following the request for review, whichever occurs first.

Unless approved by the executive director, records shall not be removed from the place designated for their inspection. The public records officer may make reasonable arrangements for ensuring the security of the record(s) during inspections.