Category: General Provisions

Posted on

WSHRC: Agency Contact Information–Public Records Officer

WSHRC: Agency Contact Information--Public Records Officer

Under the Washington State Administrative Code (hereinafter, “WAC”), what are the Washington State Human Rights Commission (hereinafter, “WSHRC”) regulations concerning both the agency contact information and public records officer? Here’s my point of view.

IMPORTANT: All hyperlinks in this article with an asterisk (*) will take the reader away from this website to either our Williams Law Group Blog* or an official governmental website. This article is for informational purposes only and is based upon my point of view. Due to the rapidly changing nature of the law, we make no warranty or guarantee concerning the accuracy or reliability of the content in this article. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct legal advice from your attorney. Please review our Disclaimer|Terms of Use|Privacy Policy before proceeding.

Advertisement




Understanding WAC 162-04-032: How to Contact the Washington Human Rights Commission for Public Records

Washington’s Public Records Act* (PRA) is designed to ensure government transparency, and the Washington State Human Rights Commission follows specific rules to make that transparency meaningful. WAC 162-04-032* explains how the public can contact the WSHRC for records and outlines the agency’s responsibilities in handling those requests. Whether you are a member of the public, an attorney, or a professional working with civil rights matters, understanding these procedures helps ensure efficient access to information.

Clear Contact Pathways

The rule begins by identifying where the Human Rights Commission’s central office is located in Olympia:

711 S. Capitol Way, Ste. 402
P.O. Box 42490
Olympia, Washington 98504

See WAC 162-04-032(1)*. This physical address matters for individuals who prefer or need to submit requests by mail or in person. The regulation then designates a public records officer, the point person responsible for overseeing compliance with the PRA. However, the HRC emphasizes flexibility—other staff members may assist or process requests. For this reason, the rule uses the term “public records officer or designee.”

Duties of the Public Records Officer

The public records officer or designee plays a crucial role in open government. Their responsibilities include:

•  Providing full assistance to individuals making requests;

•  Maintaining an index of public records when required;

•  Protecting records from damage or disorganization; and

•  Ensuring that responding to requests does not significantly disrupt the agency’s core civil rights enforcement work.

These directives help balance the PRA’s broad access rights with the agency’s need to continue investigating discrimination complaints and enforcing Washington’s civil rights laws.

How to Request Records

WAC 162-04-032* also provides detailed instructions for requesting records*. “Any person wishing to request access to public records of the human rights commission, or seeking assistance in making such a request should contact the public records officer designee of the human rights commission:

Records Analyst
Human Rights Commission
711 S. Capitol Way, Ste. 402
P.O. Box 42490
Olympia, WA 98504-2490
360-359-4925
360-586-2282
[email protected]

Information is also available at the human rights commission’s website at www.hum.wa.gov*.

WAC 162-04-032(3)*.

Request Forms Available

To streamline the process, the HRC offers a standardized public records request form. See https://www.hum.wa.gov/about-us/public-records-requests*. This form is available by contacting the public records officer’s designee directly or by downloading it from the agency’s website*. While the PRA does not require a specific form, using the Commission’s form helps ensure the request includes all information necessary for timely processing.

RELATED ARTICLES

We invite you to read more of our articles related to this topic:

» WA State Human Rights Commission Complaints

» WA State Human Rights Commission: Functions, Powers, and Duties

» WSHRC: From Complaint to Conclusion

» WSHRC: Organization and Operations

» WSHRC: Relationship of Commission to Complainant

» WSHRC: Withdrawal of Complaint

LEARN MORE

If you would like to learn more, then consider contacting an experienced attorney to discuss your case. This article is not offered as legal advice and will not establish an attorney-client relationship with Law Office of Gregory A. Williams or the author of this article; please refer to our Disclaimer | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy for more information.

–gw

Posted on

WSHRC: Organization and Operations

WSHRC: Organization and Operations

Under the Washington State Administrative Code (hereinafter, “WAC”), what are the Washington State Human Rights Commission (hereinafter, “WSHRC”) regulations concerning its organization and operations? Here’s my point of view.

IMPORTANT: All hyperlinks in this article with an asterisk (*) will take the reader away from this website to either our Williams Law Group Blog* or an official governmental website. This article is for informational purposes only and is based upon my point of view. Due to the rapidly changing nature of the law, we make no warranty or guarantee concerning the accuracy or reliability of the content in this article. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct legal advice from your attorney. Please review our Disclaimer|Terms of Use|Privacy Policy before proceeding.

Advertisement




WSHRC: ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS

“Regulations of executive branch agencies are issued by authority of statutes. Like legislation and the Constitution, regulations are a source of primary law in Washington State.” Official Washington State Legislature Website, https://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx*, (last visited 3/13/25). The WSHRC regulations concerning its organization and operations are categorized as follows: (1) Membership; (2) Meetings; (3) Quorum; (4) Executive Director; (5) Authority and Duty; (6) Offices; (7) Where to obtain information; and (8) Where to make submissions or requests. See WAC 162-04-020*.

(1) Membership

“The Washington state human rights commission consists of five members, one of whom is designated as chairperson, appointed by the governor for staggered five-year terms.” WAC 162-04-020(1)*.

(2) Meetings

“The commission holds regular meetings commencing at 9:30 a.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month, except for November and December, at various places throughout the state. No regular meeting is held in August. The place and dates of the meetings can be learned by writing or calling the commission clerk at the Olympia office at (360) 753-6770.” WAC 162-04-020(2)*.

(3) Quorum

“Three members constitute a quorum. The affirmative vote of a majority of those present is action of the commission when there is a quorum at a meeting.” WAC 162-04-020(3)*.

(4) Executive director

“The executive director is the commission’s chief executive. [This individual] … is responsible for carrying out the commission’s programs and directing the commission’s staff.” WAC 162-04-020(4)*.

(5) Authority and duty

“It is the commission’s duty to administer the law against discrimination, chapter 49.60* RCW, which has as its purpose the elimination and prevention of discrimination because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age or handicap [sic]. The commission has the authority and duty to, among other things:

(a) Study and report on all things having an impact on human rights;

(b) Make recommendations to the governor, legislature, and agencies of state and local government;

(c) Create advisory agencies and conciliation councils;

(d) In the areas of employment, public accommodations, real property transactions, credit transactions and insurance transactions, initiate, receive and process complaints of unfair practices, hold hearings, issue orders, and seek enforcement of the orders in court.

WAC 162-04-020(5)* (emphasis and paragraph formatting added).

(6) Offices

“The commission’s principal office is 402 Evergreen Plaza Building, Seventh and Capitol Way, Olympia, Washington 98504-3341. Branch offices are maintained at the following locations:

Seattle:
1516 Second Avenue
Suite 400
Seattle, Washington 98101

Spokane:
W. 905 Riverside Ave.
Suite 416
Spokane, Washington 99201-1099

Tacoma:
Suite 110 Hess Building
901 Tacoma Avenue South
Tacoma, Washington 98402-2101

Yakima:
Washington Mutual Bldg.
Suite 441
32 No. Third St.
Yakima, Washington 98901-2730

WAC 162-04-020(6)* (emphasis and paragraph formatting added).

(7) Where to obtain information

“Information on the application of the law against discrimination and related material is available at all offices of the commission. Information that branch offices are not able to supply may be obtained from the clerk at the Olympia office.” WAC 162-04-020(7)*.

(8) Where to make submissions or requests

“In circumstances where no special provision is made by rule in this Title 162* WAC, submissions or requests to the commission may be directed to the executive director at either the Olympia or Seattle office.” WAC 162-04-020(8)*.

RELATED ARTICLES

We invite you to read more of our articles related to this topic:

» WA State Human Rights Commission Complaints

» WA State Human Rights Commission: Functions, Powers, and Duties

» WSHRC: From Complaint to Conclusion

LEARN MORE

If you would like to learn more, then consider contacting an experienced attorney to discuss your case. This article is not offered as legal advice and will not establish an attorney-client relationship with Law Office of Gregory A. Williams or the author of this article; please refer to our Disclaimer | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy for more information.

-gw

Posted on

WSHRC: Definitions

WSHRC: Definitions

Under the Washington State Administrative Code (hereinafter, “WAC”), what are the  Washington State Human Rights Commission (hereinafter, “WSHRC”) regulations concerning general-provisions definitions? Here’s my point of view.

IMPORTANT: All hyperlinks in this article with an asterisk (*) will take the reader away from this website to either our Williams Law Group Blog* or an official governmental website. This article is for informational purposes only and is based upon my point of view. Due to the rapidly changing nature of the law, we make no warranty or guarantee concerning the accuracy or reliability of the content in this article. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct legal advice from your attorney. Please review our Disclaimer|Terms of Use|Privacy Policy before proceeding.

Advertisement




WSHRC: GENERAL PROVISIONS: DEFINITIONS

The WSHRC General Provisions definitions fall under WAC 162-04-010. Definitions aren’t just technicalities—they shape how the Washington State Human Rights Commission applies the law. A clear, shared understanding of terms like “complaint,” “respondent,” or “discrimination” ensures consistency, fairness, and transparency in legal proceedings. Without these definitions, the intent of the law could be misunderstood, misapplied, or challenged. In short, definitions provide the legal “language map” that keeps everything on course.

Accordingly, WAC 162-04-010 defines the following terms, as follows:

In general, words are used with this title* in the same meaning as they are used in the law against discrimination, chapter 49.60* RCW. See, in particular, RCW 49.60.040*. The following words are used with the meaning given, unless the context clearly indicates another meaning.

“Administrative Procedure Act” means chapter 34.05* RCW.

“Age” means between forty and seventy years of age.

“Chairperson” means the chairperson of the commission. The word “chairperson” is used in the place of “chairman” where that word appears in the law against discrimination. The chairperson of the commission is the member of the commission designated as chairman by the governor under RCW 49.60.050*.

“Civil rule” or “CR” means the superior court civil rules as now or hereafter amended.

“Clerk” means the clerk of the commission appointed pursuant to WAC 162-04-026*.

“Commission” means the Washington state human rights commission.

“Complainant” means a person who has filed a complaint under authority of RCW 49.60.230*.

“Complaint” means a formal complaint filed with the commission pursuant to RCW 49.60.230* and these rules.

“Executive director” means the executive director of the commission appointed pursuant to RCW 49.60.120(1)*.

“Handicap” [sic] is short for the phrase “the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical handicap [sic]” used in the law against discrimination, and means the full phrase. See WAC 162-22-040*.

“Law against discrimination” means chapter 49.60* RCW.

“Marital status” refers to the legal status of being married, single, divorced, or widowed.

“Member” means a member of the commission, except where the context indicates another meaning is intended.

“Protected class” means the persons who are members of (or who are treated as members of) one of the groups against whom discrimination is declared to be an unfair practice by the law against discrimination. Protected classes include persons between the ages of forty and seventy, persons of any race, creed, color, national origin, sex, or marital status, and persons who are handicapped [sic].

“Respondent” means one against whom a complaint has been filed under authority of RCW 49.60.230*.

WAC 162-04-010* (emphasis added).

RELATED ARTICLES

We invite you to read more of our articles related to this topic:

» WA State Human Rights Commission Complaints

» WA State Human Rights Commission: Functions, Powers, and Duties

» WSHRC: From Complaint to Conclusion

LEARN MORE

If you would like to learn more, then consider contacting an experienced attorney to discuss your case. This article is not offered as legal advice and will not establish an attorney-client relationship with Law Office of Gregory A. Williams or the author of this article; please refer to our Disclaimer | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy for more information.

-gw

Disclaimer | Terms of Use | Privacy Proudly powered by WordPress