Public Records Act

This page provides links to MRSC's resources related to the Public Records Act (PRA) in Washington State.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Public Records Act FAQs – Browse frequently asked questions (FAQs) from local governments regarding the Public Records Act in Washington State

Overview

• Public Records Act Basics – Basic PRA overview with selected examples of local PRA policies and procedures
• Exemptions and Prohibitions for Local Government Records – Primer on exemptions and prohibitions, including which exemptions are commonly used by local governments
• Responding to Public Records Requests – Overview of the PRA requirements that local governments must comply with when responding to public records requests
• Searching and Producing Public Records – Smart techniques and tips for searching and producing public records
• Managing Electronic Records – General guidance on how to manage the retention of electronic public records, including some practice tips and do's and don'ts
• Copying Charges for Public Records – Understand what costs agencies are allowed to recoup for copying and producing public records
• Public Records Act Court Decisions – Significant state appellate court decisions concerning PRA, listed in reverse chronological order, with the most recent first

Electronic Records

• Managing Electronic Records  –  General guidance on how to manage the retention of electronic public records, including some practice tips and do's and don'ts
• Electronic Records Policy Tool Kit – Series of webpages focused on providing sample policy language options and detailed guidance for the various facets of electronic records retention, management, and disclosure, including email, text, and social media
• PRA & Records Management Technology Guide – Downloadable guide offering key questions to consider before purchasing records management software, an overview of software options, suggested guidelines for evaluating and selecting software, and more

Law Enforcement Records

• Law Enforcement Records Tool Kit – Series of webpages to help police and sheriff departments manage their records and comply with PRA and other statutes

Publications

• Public Records Act publication – Downloadable publication offers a detailed outline of PRA, common prohibitions and exemptions, and more
• PRA & Records Management Technology Guide – Downloadable guide offering key questions to consider before purchasing records management software, an overview of software options, suggested guidelines for evaluating and selecting software, and more

Practice Tips and Checklists

• OPMA and PRA Practice Tips and Checklists – Helpful practice tips and short checklists to provide practical guidance

Recent Blog Posts

• Recent blog posts about PRA – Articles written by MRSC staff and contributors about specific aspects of PRA, including new legislation and court decisions. Articles are listed in reverse chronological order, with the most recent first

Training Opportunities

State law requires local elected officials and public records officers to complete open government training no later than 90 days after taking the oath of office or assuming their duties, with a refresher course at least every four years (RCW 42.56.150-.152 for PRA and RCW 42.30.205 for the Open Public Meetings Act).

MRSC and our partner organizations provide training opportunities that can help local officials fulfill these requirements.

PRA and OPMA E-Learning for City/Town Elected Officials

MRSC partners with the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) to produce two free e-learning courses for city and town councilmembers and mayors, one dealing with the Public Records Act (40 minutes) and the other with the Open Public Meetings Act (45 minutes). These courses can help fulfill the Open Government Trainings Act requirements.

After completing each training, make sure to download your certificate of completion for documentation purposes.

Other Training Opportunities

• Upcoming Trainings – View other upcoming open government trainings and workshops
• On-Demand Webinars – See section on Open Government (PRA and OPMA)