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Public records

The Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals (BIIA) is a state agency that is independent from the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I). To request public records from L&I, please visit the L&I Public Disclosure web page.

Helpful Links

  1. Requesting appeal records
  2. Requesting public records
  3. Requesting review of denials
  4. Public Records Officer Jasmine McLaughlin

Requesting appeal records

Parties to active appeals may request copies of any transcripts, depositions, and exhibits by emailing transcripts@biia.wa.gov and may request other appeal records by contacting the judge's judicial assistant.

Requesting public records

What records can I request?
All records, regardless of format or characteristic, relating to the conduct of government that are prepared, owned, used, or retained by our agency are subject to public disclosure, either as they exist or redacted if any exemptions apply.

What is an exemption?
State and federal laws prohibit disclosure of specific information. If records responsive to your request contain exempt information, you will receive a redacted copy of those records along with an exemption key. An exemption key cites to the specific legal authority we relied on to redact the exempt information and includes a brief explanation of how the exemption applies.
Common exemptions found in BIIA records are social security numbers, financial account numbers, mediation notes/communications, review judge memorandums, board vote slips, records other than the final order associated with any claim resolution agreement, records related to any crime victim appeal, personnel evaluations not referencing misconduct, personal phone numbers/addresses of our employees, application materials, etc.

What information should I include in my request for public records?
Provide as much detail as possible. If your request is unclear, we will seek clarification from you, and it may result in your request being closed if you don't provide clarification within 30 calendar days.

All requests must include:

  1. Your name
  2. Your email address or mailing address
  3. The date the request is made
  4. A description of the records you are requesting
  5. The timeframe of records requested, if applicable
  6. How you wish to receive the records (see delivery options on our fee schedule)

How do I submit a public records request?
(Preferred method for fastest response) Email RecordsOfficer@biia.wa.gov and provide as much detail as possible about your request.

OR

Mail a completed request form to:
2430 Chandler Court SW
PO Box 42401
Olympia, WA 98504-2401

OR

By FAX: 360-586-5611 (Olympia area) or 855-586-5611

OR

By Phone: 360-753-6823 (Olympia area) or 800-442-0447 and ask to be transferred to a member of our Public Records team

How will I know you received my request?

We will acknowledge receipt of your request within five business days.

Things to know:
  1. State agencies are not required to create documents to comply with a request for specific information, and they are not obligated to compile information from various records. Rather, state agencies must provide existing records.
  2. Records are produced in the format they exist unless an exemption applies. All records containing exempt information will be converted to PDF for redaction.
  3. Requests may not interfere with agency operations.
  4. BIIA WACs relating to public disclosure:

    5. WAC 263-12-016 Public records - Location.
    WAC 263-12-017 Request for public records.
    WAC 263-12-01701 Copying fees - Payments. BIIA Fee schedule
    WAC 263-12-018 Public records - Exemptions.
    WAC 263-12-019 Review of denials of public records requests.
  5. For large requests, the BIIA may:
    1. Require a deposit of up to 10% of the estimated cost before making copies.
    2. Provide copies in installments.
    3. Require advance payment before providing further installments.
  6. If a requestor fails to make a payment or has not reviewed or claimed an installment of records within 30 calendar days of notice that records are available, we may close the request.
  7. If requested records contain information that may affect rights of others, before providing the records, we may give notice and allow time for action by the other parties.
  8. After a request has been completed, if we become aware of additional responsive documents existing at the time of the request, we will deliver them to the requestor on an expedited basis.

Learn more about the public records act by visiting the Washington State Office of the Attorney General Open Government resource page or their Model Rules.

Requesting review of denials

A requestor may:

  • Send a written petition to the Public Records Officer in order to have any disclosure denial reviewed. The BIIA will consider petitions and affirm or reverse the denial within two business days following the receipt of the petition. WAC 263-12-019.
  • Obtain court review of any denial of disclosure of Public Records. See the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) for more information. RCW 42.56.550.

Public Records Officer Jasmine McLaughlin

The Public Records Officer oversees agency-wide compliance of the Public Disclosure and Records Management programs in accordance with the Public Records Act, RCW 42.56, and Preservation and Destruction of Public Records, RCW 40.14, in addition to supervising the public records team to ensure we provide timely and efficient responses to public records requests.

Jasmine McLaughlin, Public Records Officer
2430 Chandler Court SW
PO Box 42401
Olympia, WA 98504-2401

Phone: 360-753-9646 Ext. 1134

Fax: 360-586-5611 or 855-586-5611

Email: RecordsOfficer@biia.wa.gov