WA SB5342

Washington state legislators gain formal access rights to visit state-owned facilities operated by the Department of Corrections, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, and Department of Social and Health Services

Agencies must make reasonable efforts to accommodate written visit requests within the legislator's requested timeframe, or provide a written explanation and earliest available alternative date

Access includes facility tours and meetings with constituents residing in the facility, such as incarcerated individuals

Legislator access to family events at facilities is handled case-by-case, with priority given to actual family members of residents

All visiting legislators must follow facility safety and security protocols established by department policy and staff