WSU Vancouver Hosts Open Government Forum on Public Records Law

VANCOUVER, Wash. — An open government forum on the new public disclosure law will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, in the Student Services Building auditorium at Washington State University Vancouver. The public disclosure law went into effect in July.

Feedback from the forum will help the state attorney general create a set of model rules that will guide state agencies and local governments in facilitating requests for public records.

The forum, sponsored by The Columbian newspaper, is one of 13 free public forums that the Office of the Attorney General has scheduled throughout the state in partnership with local daily newspapers.

“When voters approved the state’s Public Disclosure Act nearly 30 years ago, they wanted to make sure Washington’s government was accessible and transparent,” said Attorney General Rob McKenna in a statement. “Over the years, a series of exemptions and court decisions have chipped away at the foundation of this law. That’s why we worked so hard to pass this year’s public disclosure enhancements.”

WSU Vancouver offers 15 bachelor’s and nine master’s degrees in more than 35 fields of study. The campus is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave., east of the 134th Street exit from either I-5 or I-205. Forum attendees may park at no charge in the orange parking lot starting at 6:30 p.m.