Concerning retention of court exhibits.

 S-0052.1

SENATE BILL 5021

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2025 Regular Session

By Senators Wagoner, Dhingra, Dozier, and J. Wilson

Prefiled 12/10/24. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee on Law & Justice.

AN ACT Relating to retention of court exhibits; and amending RCW 36.23.070 .

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 36.23.070 and 1981 c 154 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

A county clerk may at any time more than (( six )) five years after the entry of final judgment in any action apply to the superior court for an authorizing order and, upon such order being signed and entered, turn such exhibits of possible value over to the sheriff for disposal in accordance with the provisions of chapter 63.40 RCW, and destroy any other exhibits, unopened depositions, and reporters' notes which have theretofore been filed in such cause: PROVIDED, That reporters' notes in criminal cases must be preserved for at least (( fifteen )) 15 years: PROVIDED FURTHER, That any exhibits which are deemed to possess historical value may be directed to be delivered by the clerk to libraries or historical societies.