1. (1) An individual may request a public record verbally or in writing from the DSHS public records officer using the following contact information:

   DSHS public records officer

   Office of information governance

   P.O. Box 45135

   Olympia WA 98504-5135

   Telephone: (360) 902-8484

   Fax: (360) 902-7855

   Email: DSHSPublicDisclosure@dshs.wa.gov.

   DSHS prefers that all public record requests be in writing on the "request for DSHS records" form, DSHS 17-041. Individuals may locate this form on the DSHS website at https://www.dshs.wa.gov/office-of-the-secretary/forms or request it from the DSHS public records officer.

2. (2) If an individual does not use the DSHS form, the written public record request should include the following information:

   1. (a) The requester's name, organization, mailing address, telephone number, fax number, and email address;
   2. (b) The date of the request;
   3. (c) A detailed description of the identifiable public record being requested;
   4. (d) The email or mailing address where DSHS should send copies of the records, or if the requester wants to inspect the record at DSHS; and
   5. (e) The requester's signature.
3. (3) An individual may fill out a record request at a DSHS office or send it by regular mail, email, or fax to the public records officer.
4. (4) Requests by third parties for confidential client records must be accompanied by a valid authorization as set forth in WAC 388-01-150.
5. (5) DSHS may ask an individual requesting a public record for personal identification when the law makes a record disclosable to a specific person.
6. (6) DSHS may deny a "bot" request, which is one of multiple requests from a requester within a 24-hour period, if responding to multiple requests would cause excessive interference with other essential DSHS functions.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 42.56.040. WSR 23-19-028, § 388-01-060, filed 9/12/23, effective 10/13/23. Statutory Authority: RCW 42.56.040 and chapter 42.56 RCW. WSR 19-02-018, § 388-01-060, filed 12/21/18, effective 1/21/19. Statutory Authority: RCW 42.56.040. WSR 18-05-021, § 388-01-060, filed 2/9/18, effective 3/12/18. Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.250 and 34.05.220. WSR 99-15-065, § 388-01-060, filed 7/19/99, effective 8/19/99.]