Bill > SB6361

This bill, known as the Washington Federal Firewall Act, establishes safeguards to prevent federal authorities from misusing state-held personal information, such as driver's license and vehicle registration data, for civil immigration enforcement purposes. It mandates that state agencies, including the Department of Licensing and the Washington State Patrol, will not disclose such information to federal immigration authorities unless compelled by a valid court order, and even then, the individual must be notified. The bill requires data-sharing agreements to include certifications that the information will not be used for civil immigration enforcement, and agencies must monitor for misuse, with the power to terminate access and report violations to the Attorney General. Furthermore, both the Department of Licensing and the Washington State Patrol are required to develop protocols to restrict access to systems like the ACCESS data system, DAPS (driver and plate search system), DIAS (driver records access system), and Nlets (a law enforcement information exchange network) for civil immigration enforcement, and must submit annual reports detailing their compliance efforts, with public meetings to discuss the data.