(1)(a) For the protection of applicants and recipients, the
department and the county offices and their respective officers
and employees are prohibited, except as hereinafter provided,
from disclosing the contents of any records, files, papers and
communications, except for purposes directly connected with the
administration of the programs of this title. In any judicial
proceeding, except such proceeding as is directly concerned with
the administration of these programs, such records, files, papers
and communications, and their contents, shall be deemed
privileged communications and except for the right of any
individual to inquire of the office whether a named individual is
a recipient of welfare assistance and such person shall be
entitled to an affirmative or negative answer.
(b) Upon written request of a parent who has been awarded
visitation rights in an action for divorce or separation or any
parent with legal custody of the child, the department shall
disclose to him or her the last known address and location of his
or her natural or adopted children. The secretary shall adopt
rules which establish procedures for disclosing the address of
the children and providing, when appropriate, for prior notice to
the custodian of the children. The notice shall state that a
request for disclosure has been received and will be complied
with by the department unless the department receives a copy of a
court order which enjoins the disclosure of the information or
restricts or limits the requesting party's right to contact or
visit the other party or the child. Information supplied to a
parent by the department shall be used only for purposes directly
related to the enforcement of the visitation and custody
provisions of the court order of separation or decree of divorce.
No parent shall disclose such information to any other person
except for the purpose of enforcing visitation provisions of the
said order or decree.
(c) The department shall review methods to improve the
protection and confidentiality of information for recipients of
welfare assistance who have disclosed to the department that they
are past or current victims of domestic violence or stalking.
(2) The county offices shall maintain monthly at their
offices a report showing the names and addresses of all
recipients in the county receiving public assistance under this
title, together with the amount paid to each during the preceding
month.
(3) The provisions of this section shall not apply to duly
designated representatives of approved private welfare agencies,
public officials, members of legislative interim committees and
advisory committees when performing duties directly connected
with the administration of this title, such as regulation and
investigation directly connected therewith: PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
That any information so obtained by such persons or groups shall
be treated with such degree of confidentiality as is required by
the federal social security law.
(4) It shall be unlawful, except as provided in this
section, for any person, body, association, firm, corporation or
other agency to solicit, publish, disclose, receive, make use of,
or to authorize, knowingly permit, participate in or acquiesce in
the use of any lists or names for commercial or political
purposes of any nature. The violation of this section shall be a
gross misdemeanor.
[2006 c 259 § 5; 1987 c 435 § 29; 1983 1st ex.s. c 41 § 32; 1973 c 152 § 1; 1959 c 26 § 74.04.060. Prior: 1953 c 174 § 7; 1950 ex.s. c 10 § 1; 1941 c 128 § 5; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 10007-106b.]
NOTES:
Effective date -- 1987 c 435: See RCW 26.23.900.
Severability -- 1983 1st ex.s. c 41: See note following RCW 26.09.060.
Severability -- 1973 c 152: "If any provision of this 1973 act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [1973 c 152 § 3.]
Child support, department may disclose information to internal revenue department: RCW 74.20.160.