Privacy Policy

Thank you for reading The Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises (OMWBE) Privacy Statement.  The statement ONLY addresses the collection, use and security of access to information that may be obtained through use of  OMWBE's public website.  This statement DOES NOT cover information OMWBE collects in other ways.

The privacy of the users of  OMWBE's web site is important to us.  As well, OMWBE is directed to safeguard user's privacy under  Executive Order 00-03 concerning public records privacy protection.

Information We Collect and Store Automatically if You Only Browse OMWBE's Website

When you browse, read pages, or download information from our site, we gather some information about your visit.  This information does not identify you personally, and is used only to help us understand how people are using our website.  OMWBE analyzes this information and the website never makes this information available for commercial use.  We automatically collect the following information each time you visit:

  1. The Internet Protocol (IP) Address and domain name used.  The IP  Address is a numerical identifier assigned either to your Internet service provider or directly to your computer.  The IP Address helps us direct Internet traffic to you.
  2. The type of browser and operating system you used.
  3. The data and time you visited this site, and
  4. The Internet pages or services you visited at this site.

Information We Collect if You Volunteer It

If you send an E-mail, participate in an online survey, or provide other information using our site, the following information may also be collected if you volunteer it:

  1. Your E-mail address and contents of your E-mail message (including attachments and signature blocks).
  2. Contact information (address, telephone).
  3. Organization that you represent.
  4. Information volunteered in response to a survey, and
  5. Information volunteered through an on-line form for any other purpose.

The information collected is not limited to text characters and may include audio, video and graphic information formats you send us.  More specific information is available at the specific OMWBE Internet site that asks you to provide information.  We use your E-mail address to answer your questions, address your concerns, or forward to someone else for a response.  Survey information is used for much the same purposes, and also to improve our website and services.

Personal Information and Choice

You May Choose Whether to Provide Personal Information Online

"Personal Information" is information about a natural person that is readily identifiable to that specific individual, such as an individual's name, address and phone number.  A domain name or IP address is not considered personal information.

You do not have to give us Personal Information to visit  OMWBE's website.  We do not collect personal information about you unless you voluntarily provide it by sending an E-mail, participating in an online survey, or completing an on-line form.  In theses cases, we need personal information to answer you request or include your information or comments in a formal legal process.  In a legal process such as rule development, comments sent using the website cannot be included in the official record without personal information.

OMWBE will only maintain the information contained in these communications as long as necessary to respond to your question or to fulfill the stated purpose of the communication.  If you choose not to participate in the activity in this manner, you will still be able to browse the OMWBE Internet site and read or download any information from it.  Alternatively, you may participate in the activity that asks for personal (or any) information by contacting OMWBE in one (or more) of the following ways:

Postal Mail:

P.O. Box 41160
Olympia, Washington  98504-1160

Telephone:  360-753-9693
Facsimile:    360-586-7079

Public Access to Personal Information

Information Provided to State Government Becomes a "Public Record" and May Be Shared

Washington State law gives the public the right to access most information held by state government.  Government information is known as public records.  Any Personal Information you provide using our web site becomes part of the public record and may be shared with the public if not protected by state statute (RCW 42.17.260) or federal law (Privacy Act of 1974).  If there is a conflict between this Privacy Statement and any state or federal law governing sharing public records, the applicable law will control.

Personal information provided by children online or by E-mail cannot be identified by the web and will be treated the same as information given by an adult, and may be made available to the public under state law.

Review and Correction of Personally Identifiable Information

Any OMWBE site or application that collects personal information about you will contain specific instructions on how to review and correct this information.  Notify the contact person identified at that site.  If you believe your information is incorrect, you may send a written request that includes the reasons for your changes to  OMWBE's Public Records Officer.  If you believe that your personal information is being used for a purpose other than what was intended when submitted, you may contact us in writing.  See Contact Information below.  In all cases, please be prepared to verify your identity before we allow access or make changes.  We will attempt to respond and take action, where appropriate.

Cookies and Applets

OMWBE does not currently utilize Cookies or Applets.

Security

You are on a public Internet site and any information you send via this site may be accessed by others.  OMWBE has taken several steps to safeguard the integrity of its data and prevent  unauthorized access to the information it maintains.  These measures are designed and intended to prevent corruption of data, block unknown or unauthorized access to our systems and information and to provide reasonable protection of private information in our possession.  Unauthorized attempts to upload, change or destroy information on this site are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under state law (RCW 9A.52.110) and federal statutes, including the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act.

This information should not be construed in any way as giving business, legal, or other advice, or warranting as fail proof, the security of information provided through any OMWBE supported web site.

Disclaimer

Information presented by OMWBE on this website is considered public information and may be distributed or copied.  Use of appropriate byline/image credits is requested.  Information from this site may not be copyrighted.  This website has links to may other Internet sites, including sites operated by other government agencies, nonprofit organizations and private businesses.  When you link to a site operated by a different organization, this Privacy Statement will not apply and you are subject to the privacy policy of that new site.  Be aware that all websites have privacy notices and policies.

Links to external resources are provided as a public service, and do not imply endorsement by OMWBE.

Neither the state of Washington, nor any agency, officer, or employee of the state of Washington warrants the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information published by this system, and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of such information.  Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current.  Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this system does so at his or her own risk.  Please contact OMWBE to validate information before using it as the basis for a legal action.

Contact Information

To review your personal information, request correction of information you have supplied or we may have collected as a result of visits to this web site, and get answers to other privacy related questions:

Public Disclosure/Privacy Officer

Tammi Hazlitt
Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises
P.O. Box 41160
Olympia, Washington   98504-1160
Phone:   (360) 753-9691
Fax:   (360) 586-7079
E-Mail:   thazlitt@omwbe.wa.gov

To offer comments about the OMWBE Internet site

Webmaster

Jean Wheat
Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises
P.O. Box 41160
Olympia, Washington   98504-1160
Phone:   (360) 704-1181
Fax:   (360) 586-7079
E-Mail:   jwheat@omwbe.wa.gov