WA People
BILL · 2013–14 SESSION · LATEST VERSION SHB 2179

HB 2179: Government surveillance

Regarding government surveillance conducted with extraordinary sensing devices.

Summary

  • Prohibits Washington, its agencies, and political subdivisions from using an "extraordinary sensing device" (ESD) to conduct surveillance from an "extraordinary vantage point" without a warrant issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, unless an exception applies.
  • Provides exceptions from the warrant requirement for certain exigent circumstances, for monitoring for forest fire prevention, for certain environmental or weather-related monitoring and surveying, and for certain surveillance conducted on a military base.
  • Enforces violations by excluding unlawfully-obtained personal information from being introduced as evidence in a civil or criminal case.
  • Requires agencies to obtain approval from their governing body and follow certain public procedures before procuring an ESD, and to publish annual reports detailing the use and procurement of ESDs.
  • Establishes that, in addition to the other requirements concerning government surveillance, an agency may only use an ESD for regulatory surveillance of a permitted or licensed activity if the agency has given clear and conspicuous notice to the permittee or licensee that the activity may be subject to such surveillance.
  • Establishes civil liability for intentional violations in the form of damages or liquidated damages, attorneys' fees, and costs.

From the House Bill Report (HB 2179), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · stalled on the House floor
  1. IntroducedJan 13, 2014
  2. Out of committeeFeb 13, 2014
  3. Passed Housestopped here
  4. Passed Senate
  5. Governor
  6. Law
Prime sponsor
Jeff Morris (D-40)
Introduced
January 13, 2014 in the House
Last action
February 18, 2014
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
HB 2179, SHB 2179

AN ACT Relating to technology-enhanced government surveillance;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Jeff Morris (D-40)

1 co-sponsor (1 Democrat, 0 Republicans)

Dawn Morrell D-25

Votes

No recorded floor votes.

History

  1. Returned to Rules Committee for second reading. (SHB 2179)
  2. Returned to Rules Committee for second reading.
  3. Placed on second reading. (SHB 2179)
  4. Placed on second reading.
  5. Held for further consideration. (SHB 2179)
  6. Held for further consideration.
  7. APPG - Executive action taken by committee. (SHB 2179)
  8. Minority; do not pass. (SHB 2179)
  9. APPG - Majority; do pass 1st substitute bill proposed by Technology & Economic Development. (SHB 2179)
  10. APPG - Executive action taken by committee.
  11. APPG - Majority; do pass 1st substitute bill proposed by Technology & Economic Development.
  12. Minority; do not pass.
  13. Referred to Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government & Information Technology. (SHB 2179)
  14. Referred to Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government & Information Technology.
  15. TED - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SHB 2179)
  16. Minority; do not pass. (SHB 2179)
  17. Minority; do not pass.
  18. TED - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  19. TED - Executive action taken by committee.
  20. First reading, referred to Technology & Economic Development (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).
  21. Prefiled for introduction.

HB 2179 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

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