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Prosecutor, IT and commissioners agree to draft county AI use policy; plan to channel tools through IT
Summary
The county prosecutor’s office and IT staff led a workshop on generative AI. Commissioners signaled support for a formal policy that would allow authorized AI use for county business, require human vetting of AI output and funnel approved tools through Information Technology to protect sensitive data and public‑records compliance.
Cowlitz County legal and IT staff held a workshop Tuesday to discuss generative artificial intelligence and recommended drafting a countywide AI use policy that balances operational benefits with data‑security and public‑records obligations.
Travis (prosecutor’s office) and other prosecutor’s office staff opened the discussion, saying the first decision is whether the county will permit AI tools for official work and, if so, how to manage risk. “Do we want AI to be utilized by the county?” prosecutors asked commissioners as a starting point; commissioners responded that AI will be used and that the county should be proactive in setting rules.
Participants reviewed sample policies from other Washington counties (Spokane, Thurston and others) and discussed common policy elements: a prohibition on entering confidential or protected information into third‑party AI services; a requirement that any AI‑generated work product be reviewed and approved by a human before distribution; and funneling AI tools through IT so the county can vet platforms, manage security and integrate approved services into existing systems.
IT staff said that adopting an approved platform would make oversight and monitoring easier and recommended routing approvals through the Information Technology Department. Prosecutor’s staff noted that Microsoft‑based solutions may offer stronger controls than open public services and that a county‑wide approach would allow IT to manage access and reduce the risk of employees using unvetted external tools during public meetings or when handling sensitive material.
Commissioners agreed to proceed. Staff were directed to draft an AI policy using the Spokane and Thurston county models as starting points, and to return with proposed language that would require IT approval for county‑authorized AI tools and include public‑records safeguards.
Ending: County attorneys and IT will prepare a draft policy for board review; staff emphasized that the policy should be flexible, updated as technology evolves, and include clear rules on handling confidential information and public‑records duties.
