Section 48.135.060. Disclosure of documents, materials, or other information—Exemptions.

(1) Documents, materials, or other information as described in subsection (3), (4), or both of this section are exempt from public inspection and copying under chapters *42.17 and 42.56 RCW. The commissioner is authorized to use such documents, materials, or other information in the furtherance of any regulatory or legal action brought as a part of the commissioner's official duties.

(2) The commissioner:

(a) May share documents, materials, or other information, including the documents, materials, or information subject to subsection (1) of this section, with (i) the national association of insurance commissioners and its affiliates and subsidiaries, (ii) regulatory and law enforcement officials of other states and nations, the federal government, and international authorities, (iii) the national insurance crime bureau, and (iv) an insurer with respect to whom the suspected fraudulent claim may be perpetrated;

(b) May receive documents, materials, or information from (i) the national association of insurance commissioners and its affiliates and subsidiaries, (ii) regulatory and law enforcement officials of other states and nations, the federal government, and international authorities, (iii) the national insurance crime bureau, and (iv) an insurer with respect to whom the suspected fraudulent claim may be perpetrated and any such documents, materials, or information as described in subsection (3), (4), or both of this section are exempt from public inspection and copying; and

(c) May enter into agreements governing the sharing and use of information consistent with this subsection.

(3) Specific intelligence information and specific investigative records compiled by investigative, law enforcement, and penology agencies, the fraud program of the office of the insurance commissioner, and state agencies vested with the responsibility to discipline members of any profession, the nondisclosure of which is essential to effective law enforcement or for the protection of any person's right to privacy, are exempt under subsection (1) of this section.

(4) Information revealing the identity of persons who are witnesses to or victims of crime or who file complaints with investigative, law enforcement, and penology agencies, or the fraud program of the office of the insurance commissioner, if disclosure would endanger any person's life, physical safety, or property, is exempt under subsection (1) of this section. If at the time a complaint is filed the complainant, victim, or witness indicates a desire for disclosure or nondisclosure, such desire shall govern.

(5) No waiver of an existing privilege or claim of confidentiality in the documents, materials, or information may occur as a result of disclosure to the commissioner under this section or as a result of sharing documents, materials, or information as authorized in subsection (2) of this section.

(6) Documents, materials, or other information that is in the possession of persons other than the commissioner that would otherwise not be confidential by law or privileged do not become confidential by law or privileged by providing the documents, materials, or other information to the commissioner.

[ 2006 c 284 § 7.]

NOTES:

*Reviser's note: Provisions in chapter 42.17 RCW relating to public disclosure were recodified in chapter 42.56 RCW by 2005 c 274.

2006 c 284 § 7.