HomeMy WebLinkAboutWORKSHOP AI Policy JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of Commissioners
FROM: Shawn Frederick, Central Services Director
DATE: May 18,2026
RE: Workshop of Artificial Intelligence Policy
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
Artificial Intelligence has become a tool integrated into nearly every software platform used to
conduct business in the modern world. It is vital the county take appropriate steps to monitor
the use of AI at work to protect sensitive information. The county also needs to take
intentional steps to improve staffs ability to recognize the appropriate use of AI tools and
develop processes that lead to more efficient public services
ANALYSIS:
Work on the AI policy began nearly two years ago and has gone through several
iterations prior to being submitted to the PAO office for review.The proposed Al Policy
relies for completeness on the Darwin Al Organizational Policy (also attached),which
was developed by adding inputs to the Darwin GovernTM Al Policy Wizard
(https://www.darwingov.com/ai-policy-wizard). In addition, important protections
were developed using the references in Appendix A of the proposed policy.This
proposed policy, if adopted will be used to configure guardrails for the Darwin Govern
system allowing for effective monitoring of AI tools within the county system.
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
The Board of County Commissioners adopt by resolution the attached Artificial Intelligence
policy.
REVIEWED BY:
• 5(13(36
Josh •. Peters, County Administrator Date
STATE OF WASHINGTON
County of Jefferson
In the Matter of Adopting the Jefferson
County Artificial Intelligence Acceptable RESOLUTION NO. XX-XXXX-XXR
Development and Use Policy
WHEREAS, generative artificial intelligence (AI)represents a significant leap forward in
technology, by generating novel text, images, and other content, which has the capacity to
transform the way Jefferson County conducts business and serves the public; and,
WHEREAS, generative AI can enhance human potential and creativity but must be
deployed and regulated carefully to mitigate and guard against a new generation of risks, harms,
and perpetuation of existing inequities; and,
WHEREAS, Jefferson County is committed to accuracy, reliability, and ethical outcomes
when adopting generative AI technology, and serving all of those who reside, work, and do
business in Jefferson County in a transparent, engaged, and equitable way; and,
WHEREAS, Jefferson County seeks to realize the potential benefits of generative AI
through the deployment of generative AI tools that improve the equitable and timely delivery of
services, while balancing the benefits and risks of these new technologies; and,
WHEREAS, a generative AI policy is necessary to govern the development, deployment,
management and use of generative AI use in Jefferson County government affairs in a thoughtful
manner that upholds the public trust, ensures safety and security, and promotes ethical standards;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
JEFFERSON COUNTY,WASHINGTON,HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Whereas Clauses are Findings of Fact. The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners
hereby adopts the above "Whereas"clauses as Findings of Fact.
Section 2. Purpose. The purpose of this resolution is to adopt the Jefferson County Artificial
Intelligence Acceptable Development and Use Policy.
Section 3. Adoption of the Jefferson County Artificial Intelligence Acceptable Development and
Use Policy. The Jefferson County Artificial Intelligence Acceptable Development and Use Policy
is hereby adopted.
Section 4. Repealing and Replacing Any Inconsistent Policy that Addresses the Topic of
this Ordinance. This Ordinance controls over any other ordinance, resolution or policy on
the same topic.
Section 5. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or section of this
Ordinance or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this
1
Ordinance or its application to other persons or circumstances shall be fully valid and shall not be
affected.
Section 7. Effective Date. The Ordinance becomes effective upon the dated of adoption.
Section 8. SEPA Categorical Exemption. This ordinance is categorically exempt from the State
Environmental Policy Act under WAC 197-11-800 (19).
(SIGNATURES FOLLOW ON THE NEXT PAGE)
2
APPROVED and ADOPTED this day of , 2026.
JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS
Greg Brotherton, Chair
SEAL: Heidi Eisenhour, Member
Heather Dudley-Nollette, Member
ATTEST:
Carolyn Gallaway, CMC Date
Clerk of the Board
Approved as to form only:
Philip C. Hunsucker Date
Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
3
JEFFERSON
COUNTY
ARTIFICIAL
-02i°n: April l5,
INTELLIGENCE
ACCEPTABLE
DEVELOPMENT
AND USE POLICY
This AI Policy governs all uses of artificial
intelligence by or on behalf of Jefferson County,
Washington.
Document Code No.:
Title: Jefferson County Artificial Intelligence Acceptable Development and Use Policy
Page ii of ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS ii
(1) INTRODUCTION 1
(2) PURPOSES 1
(3) GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND VALUES
(4) DEFINITIONS 3
(5) APPLICABILITY OF THIS AI POLICY 8
(6) Compliance with Existing Laws and Policies 8
(7) Prohibited uses of an AI System 9
(8) PUBLIC RECORDS ACT COMPLIANCE 11
(9) architectural and technical STANDARDS 11
(10) ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 11
(11) AI SYSTEM AND USE CASE APPROVAL PROCESS 13
(12) PROCEDURES 16
(13) CONSEQUENCES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE 18
(14) LIMITATIONS OF THIS AI POLICY 18
APPENDIX A: REFERENCES 20
APPENDIX B: RELEVANT COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS 22
APPENDIX C: Records protected from disclosure that should not be used in an ai system 23
Document Code No.: ***
Title: Jefferson County Artificial Intelligence Acceptable Development and Use Policy
Page 1 of 23
JEFFERSON COUNTY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ACCEPTABLE DEVELOPMENT AND USE POLICY
(1)INTRODUCTION
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is increasingly becoming an integral part of local
government operations, offering opportunities to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness
of public services. At the same time, the use of AI also presents ethical, legal, and social
challenges that require responsible management. This AI Policy provides a framework for
the effective and responsible use of AI systems within the County, to maximize the benefits
of these innovative tools while minimizing their potential risks to both the County and the
public.
(2)PURPOSES
The purposes of this AI Policy are to:
A. Ensure ethical and responsible development, deployment, and use of AI technology in the
County, ensuring they are in alignment with the principles of transparency, fairness,
accountability, and public trust.
B. Enable effective use of AI technology by providing clear guidance to the County personnel,
vendors, and other partners who work with AI systems.
C. Inform community members and other stakeholders about how the County is utilizing AI
technology and what measures it is taking to protect the public from potential adverse
consequences of these systems.
D. Promote responsible and ethical use of AI technology by defining the principles and values
that govern the application of this technology within the County.
E. Ensure the compliance of AI systems with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and
regulations as well as existing the County policies.
F. Assign roles and responsibilities related to the County's use of AI systems.
G. Establish processes that encourage effective and responsible use of AI systems.
H. Define prohibited uses of AI systems.
I. Specify measures which may be taken in the event of failure to comply with these policies.
This AI Policy may be updated from time to time to account for changes in AI technology, laws
and regulations, uses of AI systems within the County, and other considerations.
In addition, the Central Services Director may publish an AI User Guide to provide more detailed
guidance on how the requirements of this AI Policy is to be implemented. Unless otherwise stated,
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Title: Jefferson County Artificial Intelligence Acceptable Development and Use Policy
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any such additional guidance should be considered an extension of this AI Policy and carry the
same requirements for compliance.
(3)GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND VALUES
The County's AI development, deployment, and use of artificial intelligence systems shall be
guided by the following guiding principles and values:
(a) We expect to retain appropriate human agency and oversight,allowing for
intervention to prevent harm.
(b) We expect to use internal and external security testing of systems before
public release for high-risk artificial intelligence systems.
(c) We expect to protect data privacy and security.
(d) We expect to promote appropriate transparency for consumers when they
interact with artificial intelligence systems or products created by artificial
intelligence.
(e) We expect to ensure accountability, considering oversight, impact
assessment, auditability, and due diligence mechanisms.
(f) We expect to make AI accessible to all residents, including those with
disabilities or limited access.
(g) We expect to govern the deployment and maintenance of AI systems with
human oversight ensuring adherence to relevant laws and regulations and by
defining roles and responsibilities.
(h) We expect to implement measures to detect and mitigate biases in order to prevent
harm.
(i) We expect to continuously monitor and enhance AI systems based on feedback and
technological advancements.
(j) We expect proper management, quality,and stewardship of data used by AI systems.
(k) We will promote digital literacy among residents to help them understand and
engage with AI systems.
(1) We expect AI systems reliable, meet their objectives, and deliver precise
and dependable outcomes in their deployment contexts;
(m) We expect AI decisions to be understandable to those affected.
(n) We expect AI systems to prevent discrimination and bias,ensuring fair treatment for
all residents.
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(o) We expect AI systems should be developed and deployed with a human-
centered approach that evaluates their impact on the public.
(p) We expect technological innovation to be embraced responsibly while minimizing
environmental impact.
(q) We expect AI systems to comply with all relevant laws and regulations.
(r) We expect privacy concerning personal data to be protected, while satisfying the
requirements of the Washington Public Records Act, chapter 42.56 RCW.
(s) We expect AI systems to comply with data protection laws.
(t) We expect AI systems not to cause harm and to prioritize the safety of
residents.
(u) We expect AI systems to be secure against unauthorized access and ensure consistent
performance.
(v) We expect the use of AI systems to be proactively communicated to the
public, ensuring that AI systems,their data sources,operational models,and
governing policies are understandable and documented.
(w) We expect Staff to be empowered to use AI in their roles through education,training,
and collaborations that promote participation and opportunity.
These guiding principles and values are the inspiration for this AI Policy,and AI users are expected
to incorporate these same motivations in the implementation of this AI Policy. While the ideal
course of action may not be obvious or practical in every circumstance,this AI Policy is designed
to offer guidance to help AI users responsively navigate the use of AI systems.
(4)DEFINITIONS
(a)"Artificial Intelligence" (or"Al")' means a machine-based system that can,
for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions,
recommendations or decisions influencing real or virtual environments.
Artificial intelligence systems use machine and human-based inputs to:
(i) Perceive real and virtual environments;
(ii) Abstract such perceptions into models through analysis in an automated
manner; and,
(iii) Use a model to formulate options for information or action.
I Slightly modified, this is the definition from the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020, 15 U.S.0
section 9401.
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(b) "AI best practices" means the best practices described in National Cyber
Security Centre, Best Practices for Securing Data Used to Train &
Operate AI systems, Ver. 1.0 (May 2025).
(c) "AI model" means a set of programmed instructions that processes data
to perform tasks, make decisions, or solve problems within an AI system.
(d) "AI Policy" means this Jefferson County Artificial Intelligence
Acceptable Development and Use Policy.
(e) "AI System"2 means any machine-based system that, for any explicit or
implicit objective, infers from the inputs the system receives how to
generate outputs, including content, decisions, predictions, or
recommendations, that can influence physical or virtual environments
and includes any tool, software, process, workflow, or other system
which is based on AI or which uses an AI tool.
(f) "AI Tool" means a piece of software which provides AI functionality and
can be applied to a specific use case.
(g) "AI Use Case" means specific task or purpose for which an AI tool is
used or under consideration.
(h) "AI User" means any person is using, developing, purchasing,
configuring, or maintaining any AI used by or for the County, including
contractors, consultants, elected officials, employees, and volunteers.
(i) "AI User Guide" means a document which supplements an AI Policy
with more detailed guidance on how to implement this AI Policy.
(j) "Bias" means systematic tendencies that can exist within AI systems,
often stemming from flawed data, algorithms, or design processes, that
may lead to discriminatory or inaccurate outcomes affecting certain
groups or persons.
(k) "Central Services" means the County Central Services Department.
(1) "Central Services Director" means the person holding the title of
Director of Central Services or a delegee that has been delegated in
writing.
(m) "Chatbot" means a computer program that simulates human conversation
through text or voice interactions.
2 For greater precision, this defmition was modified, using Colorado's AI Act, Colo. Rev. Stat. § 6-1-1701 (Lexis
Advance through Chapter 22 of the 2026 Regular Session,effective as of March 26,2026).
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(n) "Consequential decision"3 means a decision that has a material legal or
similarly significant effect on, or the cost of:
(i) Hiring or retention of a contractor, employee, vendor or volunteer;
(ii) Any budget decision;
(iii) The provision of any essential government service;
(iv) Health care (as defined in this AI Policy);
(v) Risk management, including but not limited to obtaining coverage for
any risks by an insurance company or a self-insurance program; or,
(vi) The provision of legal services.
(o) "County" means the County, Washington.
(p) "County Approved AI system" means an AI system approved for use by
AI users as specified in section 7.a.
(q) "Data" means any digital representation of information, knowledge,
facts, concepts, data programs or instructions that are being prepared or
have been prepared in a formalized manner and are intended for use in a
data network, data program, data services, or data system.
(r) "Health care provider"4 means a person who is licensed, certified,
registered, or otherwise authorized by the law of this state to provide
health care in the ordinary course of business or practice of a profession.
(s) "Health care"' means any care, service, or procedure provided by a
health care provider:
(i) To diagnose, treat, or maintain a patient's physical or mental condition;
or,
(ii)That affects the structure or any function of the human body.
(t) "Health care information" means all information about health care that is
protected from disclosure by the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule, 45 C.F.R. Parts 160
and 164, Chapter 70.02 RCW (Medical Records—Health Care
Information Access and Disclosure) or RCW 42.56.360 (Health care
'Adapted from the Colorado AI Act,Colo. Rev.Stat. §6-1-1701 (2026).
a Definition from RCW 70.02.010(19).
5 Definition from RCW 70.02.010(15).
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exemption from disclosure of records under the Washington Public
Records Act).
(u) "High-risk AI system"6 means any AI system that, when deployed,
makes, or is a substantial factor in making, a consequential decision.
"High-risk AI system" does not include an AI system if:
(i) The AI system is intended to:
(A) Perform a narrow procedural task;
(B) Detect decision-making patterns or deviations from prior
decision-making patterns and is not intended to replace or
influence a previously completed human assessment without
sufficient human review;
(ii) The AI system uses the following technologies, unless the
technologies, when deployed, make, or are a substantial factor in
making, a consequential decision:
(iii) Anti-fraud technology that does not use facial recognition
technology;
(iv) Anti-malware;
(v) Anti-virus;
(vi) AI-enabled video games;
(vii) Calculators;
(viii)Cybersecurity;
(ix) Databases;
(x) Data storage;
(xi) Firewall;
(xii) Internet domain registration;
(xiii)Internet website loading;
(xiv)Networking;
6 Adapted from the Colorado AI Act,Colo. Rev. Stat. §6-1-1701 (2026).
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(xv) Spam- filtering;
(xvi)Robocall-filtering;
(xvii) Spell-checking;
(xviii) Spreadsheets;
(xix)Web caching;
(xx) Web hosting or any similar technology; or,
(xxi)Technology that communicates with consumers in natural language
for the purpose of providing users with information, making referrals
or recommendations, and answering questions and is subject to
County policy that prohibits generating content that is discriminatory
or harmful.
(v) "IT" means the Jefferson County Information Technologies Department, a
division of Central Services.
(w) "Public Record" has the same meaning as in RCW 42.56.010(3).7
(x) "Risk management" means coordinated activities to direct and control an
organization with regard to risk.
(y) "Section" means a section of this AI Policy, unless there is clear language in
this AI Policy that a section of this AI Policy does not apply.
(z) "Substantial factor"8 means a factor that:
(A) Assists in making a consequential decision;
(B) Is capable of altering the outcome of a consequential decision; and,
(C) Is generated by an AI system.
' "`Public record' includes any writing containing information relating to the conduct of government or the
performance of any governmental or proprietary function prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local
agency regardless of physical form or characteristics.For the office of the secretary of the senate and the office of the
chief clerk of the house of representatives,public records means legislative records as defined in RCW 40.14.100 and
also means the following: All budget and financial records; personnel leave, travel, and payroll records; records of
legislative sessions;reports submitted to the legislature;and any other record designated a public record by any official
action of the senate or the house of representatives. This definition does not include records that are not otherwise
required to be retained by the agency and are held by volunteers who:
(a)Do not serve in an administrative capacity;
(b)Have not been appointed by the agency to an agency board,commission,or internship;and
(c)Do not have a supervisory role or delegated agency authority."RCW 42.56.010(3).
'Adapted from the Colorado AI Act,Colo.Rev. Stat. § 6-1-1701 (2026).
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"Substantial factor" includes any use of an AI system to generate any content,
decision,prediction, or recommendation concerning consequential decision.
(aa) "Writing" has the same meaning as in RCW 42.56.010(4).9
(5)APPLICABILITY OF THIS AI POLICY
(a) This AI Policy governs the development, procurement or use of any AI systems (as
defined in this AI Policy) by or on behalf of the County.
(b) All County boards, commissions, committees, departments, and task forces
shall comply with this AI Policy.
(c) This AI Policy applies to:
(i) Agents, contractors, elected officials, employees, officers, vendors and
volunteers of the County who operate on behalf of the County; and,
(ii)All AI users (as defined in this AI Policy).
(d)This AI Policy does not apply to any AI system which:
(i) Has been evaluated and determined in writing by the Central Services
Director to be safe for unrestricted usage;
(ii)Has AI features included in applications maintained by Central Services,
which are not part of the AI feature's core functionality or involve the use of
sensitive data; and,
(iii) That is only are for personal use, outside of work hours, and that does not use the
County resources, including but not limited to computers or servers owned
or operated by the County.
(6)COMPLIANCE WITH EXISTING LAWS AND POLICIES
Development and use of AI systems shall comply with:
(a) All applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations; and,
(b) All County policies, including but not limited to:
9 "`Writing' means handwriting, typewriting, printing, photostating, photographing, and every other means of
recording any form of communication or representation including,but not limited to,letters,words,pictures,sounds,
or symbols, or combination thereof, and all papers, maps, magnetic or paper tapes, photographic films and prints,
motion picture,film and video recordings,magnetic or punched cards,discs,drums,diskettes,sound recordings,and
other documents including existing data compilations from which information may be obtained or translated."RCW
42.56.010(3).
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(i) Jefferson County Social Media Policy (Resolution No. 14-20, March 16,
2020).
(ii) Jefferson County Public Records Act Compliance Policy (Resolution No. 10-
22,February 28,2022).
(iii) Open Public Meeting Act Guidelines for Jefferson County Boards,
Commissions & Committees (Resolution No. 50-22, October 24, 2022).
(iv) Jefferson County Personnel Administration Manual (Resolution No. 19-0407-
25R, April 7, 2025).
(7)PROHIBITED USES OF AN AI SYSTEM
(a) The following AI systems are approved for use by the persons subject to this
AI Policy listed in section 5, subject to the limitations in this section 7:
(i) Microsoft's Enterprise AI system called Co-Pilot(which is part of the
Microsoft 360 suite of programs) is the only AI system to be used for
generative AI that is approved for use by AI users (as defined in this policy).
(ii) The Central Services Director shall maintain a list of any other approved
AI systems.
(b)Use of an AI system on a County-owned computer, server or system that is
not approved pursuant to this AI Policy is prohibited.
(c)Use of any high-risk AI system (as defined in this AI Policy) is prohibited.
(d)Use of an AI system on a County-owned computer, server or system to create
any deepfake, which is an image created by using machine learning to capture
and encode unique biometric characteristics of targets to combine the
subject's unique characteristics with the acquired knowledge of general
human expression in order to then synthesize the target's facial features,
voice, mannerisms, etc. is prohibited.
(e) Entry any of the following data into an AI system is prohibited:
(i) Personal financial information for any individual. This includes credit
card number, bank account number, PIN numbers, and any other
financial information.
(ii) Authentication information. Inputting any passwords, login credentials,
or other authentication information into an AI system is prohibited.
(iii) Personally Identifying Information. Inputting any personally identifying
information into an AI system is prohibited. Personally identifying
information includes name, address, phone number, email address, social
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security number, passport number, driver's license number, and any
other information that can reasonably be used to identify an person.
(iv) Health care information (as defined in this AI Policy).
(v) Sensitive or confidential information. This includes any information that
could be used or disclosed to harm the County or its employees or
volunteers, or residents such as information about political affiliations,
religious beliefs, membership in a protected class, criminal history, or
information related to the County information system.
(vi) Any information exempted from disclosure by the Public Records Act,
chapter 42.56 RCW or some other federal or state statute, including but
not limited to:
(A) Attorney-client privileged records relating to representation of the
County by its attorneys. The attorney-client privileged records are
protect communications and advice between an attorney and their
client. RCW 5.60.060(2)(a) constitutes an "other statute' exemption
under RCW 42.56.070(1)
(B) Attorney work product records. Attorney work product records are:
"Records that are relevant to a controversy to which an agency is a
party but which records would not be available to another party under
the rules of pretrial discovery for causes pending in the superior
courts are exempt from disclosure under [the Public Records Act]."
RCW 42.56.290.
(C) Autopsy records. Autopsy and post mortem reports and records are
confidential and exempt from examination by the public. RCW
68.50.105(1).
(D) Records related to juvenile offenses. RCW 13.50.050(1), (3).
(E) Records of a person confined in jail. RCW 70.48.100(2).
(F) Personal information in files maintained for County employees,
appointees, or elected officials of any public agency to the extent that
disclosure would violate their right to privacy. RCW 42.56.230(3).
(G) Specific intelligence information. Secret information, information
about an enemy, or conclusions drawn from such information or that
would disclose particular methods or procedures for gathering or
evaluating intelligence information. RCW 42.56.240(1).
(H) Specific investigative records. Information on active ongoing law
enforcement investigations. RCW 42.56.240(1).
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(I) Records protected by an "other statute which exempts or prohibits
disclosure of specific information or records." RCW 42.56.070(1).
A list of"other statutes" is attached as Appendix D.
(8)PUBLIC RECORDS ACT COMPLIANCE
Any product created by any AI system necessarily will be a "public record," as defined in RCW
42.56.010(3). All public records shall be managed in compliance with chapter 40.14 RCW
(Preservation And Destruction of Public Records), chapter 42.56 RCW(Public Records Act), and
the County's most recent version of the Jefferson County Public Records Act Compliance Policy.
(9)ARCHITECTURAL AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS
The architectural and technical standards associated with the enterprise use of AI systems shall be
maintained by IT.
(10) ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The following persons and groups are responsible for the duties involved in implementing
this AI Policy, as described below:
(a) Central Services Director.
The Central Services Director shall be responsible for:
(i) Providing a public report at least annually to the Board of County Commissioners on
County AI usage.
(ii) Developing this AI Policy and additional guidance.
(iii) Coordinating AI initiatives across departments and teams.
(iv) Overseeing compliance with laws, regulations and County policies.
(v) Providing guidance to AI users across the organization.
(vi) Convening and overseeing the AI Working Group.
(vii) Leading the AI review process.
(viii)Directing technology resources, policies, projects, and services.
(ix) Approving AI Policy and related guidance.
(x) Facilitating collaboration between teams and departments for successful
implementation of this AI Policy.
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(xi) Overseeing enterprise security infrastructure and cybersecurity
operations.
(xii) Maintaining security policies, procedures, standards, and guidelines.
(xiii)Monitoring compliance with security policies and related
requirements.
(xiv)Ensuring accurate data sensitivity classification and protections.
(xv) Advising on compliance on AI usage.
(xvi)Identifying legal issues and risks related to AI usage.
(xvii) Investigating alleged violations of this AI Policy and recommend
corrective actions.
(b)AI Review Committee
The Board of County Commissioners shall establish an AI Review Committee with
department representatives which shall be make recommendations to the Central Services
Director on oversight and guidance on AI initiatives within the County.
The AI Review Committee shall review and consider updates to this AI Policy at least
annually to reflect technological advancements and evolving community needs.
The AI Review Committee shall be responsible for making recommendations to the Central
Services Director on the following topics:
(i) AI systems being considered for use by the County.
(ii) Ethical concerns and conflicts.
(iii) Policy and guidance updates.
(c)County Administrator
The County Administrator shall be responsible for:
(i) Approving proposed changes to this AI Policy.
(ii) Making a final determination whether to allow AI use cases which involve
substantial risks of harm or other negative consequences.
(iii) Enforcing corrective action for violations of this AI Policy.
(d)Electeds and Department Heads
Electeds and department heads or a delegee shall be responsible for:
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(i) Ensuring employee, contractor and vendor compliance with this AI
Policy.
(ii) Integrating AI systems into department operations that comply with this
AI Policy.
(iii) Facilitating training for staff on this AI Policy and AI best practices (as defined
in this AI Policy).
Unless otherwise specified, the specific officials listed above may delegate to one or more
persons to act on their behalf with respect to this AI Policy, and in such cases those
designees are understood to inherit the same authorities and obligations as the named
officials.
(e)AI Users
(i) All AI users are responsible for complying with the requirements of this Al
Policy.
(ii) All AI users have the responsibility to verify the accuracy of any
information acquired through the use of AI systems before using that
information in any final, published, or production documents.
(11) AI SYSTEM AND USE AND CASE APPROVAL PROCESS
(a) AI Systems Review Process
The Central Services Director shall establish a process under which all AI systems and AI
Use Cases are subject to a thorough review to determine their compliance with this AI
Policy prior to their implementation. The review process shall:
(i) Confirm compliance with the specific requirements and prohibitions established
under this AI Policy;
(ii) Consider the relative benefits and risks of each system or use case and determine
whether or not approval is reasonable and aligned with the values and principles in
this AI Policy;
(iii) Specify the intended use cases of those systems and whether or not other use cases
require additional review;
(iv) Document the results of each review using a standard template, which results
shall be retained for either the full lifespan of the AI system or use case or the
retention period required under law for similar documents (whichever is longer).
(b)Determination of High Risk Potential Negative Impacts
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(i) The Central Services Director shall create a standard for determining whether
or not a particular AI system or AI use case has a high risk of potential
negative impacts to any relevant person, group, or organization.
(ii) A high-risk determination,that AI system or use case shall be presented to the
full AI Review Committee for approval.
(iii) Lower-risk AI systems and use cases may be approved by the Central
Services Director at their discretion.
(iv) The Central Services Director shall revisit all previously-approved AI
systems and use cases at least annually, or sooner in the event of substantial
modifications(such as a major software upgrade or change in scope), and
confirm in writing to the County Administrator the continued compliance and
reasonableness of the AI system or use case.
(c)Monitoring,Evaluation, and Accountability
(i) The Central Services Director shall be responsible for implementing AI
systems to monitor AI system performance,effectiveness, and policy
compliance. The data collected from these AI systems shall be periodically
reviewed to evaluate the effectiveness of AI systems and their impacts on the
community.
(ii) The Central Services Director shall establish procedures and protocols for
responding to failures of AI systems and violations of this AI Policy,
including corrective actions with regard to both the AI systems themselves
and the persons and organizations involved.
(iii) Upon the recommendation of the Central Services Director, Central Services
Director, and/or County Administrator, independent audits shall be conducted
to review AI systems for compliance with policies and ethical standards.
Findings from audits and evaluations shall be used to refine AI policies,
improve AI system functionalities, and determine any additional training or
accountability requirements.
(d)Data Management, Privacy, and Retention
All AI systems shall comply with applicable data protection laws, regulations, and
policies to safeguard data protected by this AI Policy.
(e)Mitigation of Bias and Human Oversight
All AI users shall be responsible for taking steps to mitigate potential biases(including but
not limited to biases related to protected characteristics such as race, gender, sexual
orientation,national origin, disability, or language)in AI systems they interact with, in
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accordance with training and recommendations provided by the Central Services
Director.
(f) Transparency and Explainability
Upon the consideration or introduction of a new AI system which is likely to have
major public impact, the Central Services Director shall ensure that key information
is provided to affected groups and other stakeholders in a timely manner. Such
information shall be provided in multiple formats or languages if necessary,
consistent with the County's practice in communicating
To the greatest extent possible,AI systems should provide clear and understandable
explanations for their decisions and outputs,particularly in cases where erroneous
results may create a risk of substantial negative impacts.
(g)Training
(i) All users shall be provided with regular training on Al technologies,
ethical considerations, and compliance requirements to ensure
knowledgeable and responsible use of AI systems, as recommended by the
Central Services Director.
(ii) The Central Services Director shall develop specific training requirements and
content for users granted access to high-risk AI systems and associated data,
focusing on compliance with this AI Policy and other associated laws,
regulations, policies, and AI best practices.
(iii) These trainings shall be updated on a regular basis to ensure their accuracy and
relevance, and users' continued access to high-risk AI systems and data shall
be contingent upon completion of additional required trainings determined
by the Central Services Director.
(h)Vendors and Third Parties
(i) All vendors and other third parties who provide or interact with AI systems
shall be required to comply with this and all other applicable policies, and this
compliance shall be explicitly included in all relevant contracts and similar
agreements.
(ii) All technology vendors shall be required to disclose whether and how AI is used
in their products and services, and what mechanisms they provide to allow for
auditing these AI systems. These disclosures shall be provided using a standard
form developed and maintained by the Central Services Director and required in
all technology procurements.
(iii) Vendors shall be evaluated based on their commitment to responsible AI
development and their history of adherence to ethical standards, and
preference in procurement decisions shall be given to vendors which can
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effectively provide transparency into their AI systems and practices to both
the County and the public.
(i) Labeling of AI-generated Content
All content generated by AI systems and presented to the public shall be clearly labeled as
such. This shall include all text, audio, image, and video content, as well as interactive AI
systems such as chatbots and automated decision-making tools.
All persons involved in disseminating content generated by an AI system on behalf of the
County shall be responsible for ensuring the accuracy of such content and its appropriate
labeling.
The Central Services Director or designee shall establish standard mechanisms for the County
personnel and members of the public to report violations of this labeling requirement.
(12) PROCEDURES
(a)Attribution
(i) The use of AI systems and the resulting product(s) shall be attributed,
referenced, and cited in any electronic or paper material produced and
published by anyone subject to this AI Policy.
(ii) Attribution should include a description of the source application, how it
was used, how the material was edited, by whom, and the date. For
example:
"Microsoft Co-Pilot was used to generate the charts and data referenced above. The
content was reviewed and edited before being published by Sam Smith, Jefferson
County Public Works Department, on 04/15/2026."
(b)Intellectual Property
Content produced by AI systems may implicate intellectual property rights and likely will
include copyrighted material. AI systems shall be "trained" using Data(text, images, etc.)
that has been sourced from the internet without regard for copyright or licensing terms. It
is extremely difficult to determine what content was used to train an AI system, and
difficult to verify whether AI-generated content is wholly original or only a slight
stylization of existing copyrighted material.Nevertheless, County AI users are required to
perform due diligence to ensure that no copyrighted material is published by the County
without proper attribution or without obtaining proper rights.
(c)Validation Required
(i) Complex algorithms of AI systems exponentially increase risk when
incomplete or inaccurate data is involved. AI systems shall be validated
and regularly assessed to ensure completeness and accuracy. Results
•
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from decisions, code, or research supported by AI systems should
consistently align with those of a human subject matter expert.
(ii) AI users shall verify the accuracy of any information acquired through
the use of AI systems before using that information in any final,
published, or production documents. If AI users are uncertain about the
accuracy of the obtained information, they should consult their
supervisor or seek advice from a IT.
(iii) AI users shall independently verify any quotes or references generated by
AI systems. AI users shall not assume that a quote or reference is
accurate, or real. AI systems rarely act as if they are uncertain, making
false answers difficult to spot. AI systems can generate:
(A) Fabricated content, sometimes called "hallucinations." This is a
phenomenon where an AI system, particularly those using large
language models, generates false, inaccurate, or illogical
information while presenting it in a confident, authoritative, and
convincing manner. Fabricated content occurs when an AI system
creates synthetic data, fabricates facts, or invents nonexistent
sources. An AI system may invent fake academic papers, legal
cases, scientific studies, or personal facts.
(B) Factual Errors: Stating incorrect facts, such as "Einstein won two
Nobel Prizes."
(C) Image Distortions: AI systems can create anatomically incorrect
figures (e.g., too many fingers).
Verification shall include cross-referencing sources included in the AI output, or
independently verifying dates, names and events in peer reviewed or authoritative
published literature on the interne or printed material.
(d)Decision Making
County departments shall utilize AI systems to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. AI
systems can be used for idea generation and as one source of information when researching
a topic. AI systems products shall be human reviewed and edited before usage in any final,
published, or production documents. This is particularly important when the content is
public facing. AI users shall be responsible for their use of AI systems and the application
of any content or product in work tasks generated by AI systems.
(e)Equity and Inclusion
While AI systems can reduce workloads, support capacity, and increase accessibility, the
generated content reflects the cultural, economic, and social biases of the source materials
used for training. The algorithms applied can be a source of bias as well. Applying
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principles from the equity and empowerment lens, AI users should thoroughly review any
content generated by AI systems to ensure that any instances of bias, or potentially
offensive or harmful material, is changed or removed.
When it comes to the adoption of AI systems, the County's goal is to eliminate digital
disparities and ensure that persons who belong to a protected class and those impacted by
language or other accessibility barriers have equal access to and benefit from the County
programs,activities,benefits,and services.To uphold this commitment,the County applies
the equity and empowerment lens to address race,color,national origin,disability,religion,
age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, veteran
status, source of income, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law.
(f) Final Requirements
Under no circumstances is a County employee authorized to engage in any activity that is
illegal under local, state, federal, or local law while utilizing County-owned resources.
AI users shall comply with all applicable County policies and are required to read and
understand them. Responsibilities for protecting County information do not end at the
termination of employment. These responsibilities continue until the information is
reclassified to be public.
(13) CONSEQUENCES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE
Departments shall ensure compliance with this AI Policy and are accountable for any AI systems
deployed. Violations of this AI Policy shall be grounds for disciplinary action,up to and including
termination of employment;and enforcement action which shall include civil or criminal penalties.
(14) LIMITATIONS OF THIS AI POLICY1°
(a) Nothing in this AI Policy restricts the County or any other person's
ability to:
(i) Comply with federal, state, or municipal laws, ordinances, or
regulations;
(ii) Comply with a civil, criminal, or regulatory inquiry, investigation,
subpoena, or summons by a federal, a state, a municipal, or other
governmental authority;
(iii) Cooperate with a law enforcement agency concerning conduct or
activity that the developer, deployer, or other person reasonably and
in good faith believes may violate federal, state, or municipal laws,
ordinances, or regulations;
1'Adapted from the Colorado AI Act,Colo.Rev. Stat. §6-1-1705 (2026).
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(iv) Investigate, establish, exercise, prepare for, or defend legal claims;
(v) Take immediate steps to protect an interest that is essential for the
life or physical safety of a consumer or another person;
(vi) By any means other than the use of facial recognition technology,
prevent, detect, protect against, or respond to security incidents,
identity theft, fraud, harassment, malicious or deceptive activities, or
illegal activity; investigate, report, or prosecute the persons
responsible for any such action; or preserve the integrity or security
of AI systems;
(vii) Conduct research, testing, and development activities regarding an
AI system or AI model, other than testing conducted under real-
world conditions, before the AI system or AI model is deployed or
put into service; or,
(viii)Assist any other person with any of the obligations imposed under
this AI Policy.
(b)Nothing in this AI Policy imposes any obligation on any person that
adversely affects their rights or freedoms, including the rights to freedom of
speech or freedom of the press that are guaranteed in:
(i) The first amendment to the United States constitution; or,
(ii) Section Article I, Section 5 of the Washington constitution.
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APPENDIX A: REFERENCES
Reference To is
Federal Law
National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Shaping AI 15 U.S.C. section
Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-283) development and use in 9401 et. seq.
the United States
Health Insurance Portability and Protection of heath 45 C.F.R. Parts 160
Accountability Act of 1996(HIPAA) information and 164.
Privac Rule
Protection of the Right to Privacy Protection of privacy Chapter 9.73 RCW
Preservation and Destruction of Public Rules for preservation Chapter 40.14 RCW
Records and destruction of
public records
Washington Public Records Act Promote open Chapter 42.56
government RCW
Health care exemption from disclosure of Protection of heath RCW 42.56.360.
records under the Washington Public information
Records Act
Medical Records—Health Care Protection of heath Chapter 70.02 RCW.
Information Access and Disclosure Law information
SHB 1205 (2025) Reenacts and amends See the URL in the
RCW 9A.60.010 and footnote below."
9A.60.045 and makes it
a crime to knowingly
distribute a forged
digital likeness of
another person to
defraud, harass,
threaten, or intimidate
another, or for an
unlawful su sose
other References and Standards
National Cyber Security Centre, Best Best Practices for See the URL in the
Practices for Securing Data Used to development and use of footnote below. 12
Train& Operate AI systems, (Ver. 1.0 AI systems
May 2025)
" https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2025-26/PdfBills/Session%20Laws/House/1205-S.SL.pdf, Accessed
April 11,2026.
12 https://media.defense.gov/2025/Ma1/22/2003720601/-1/-1/0/CSI Al DATA SECURITY.PDF, Accessed April
12,2026.
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Reference I opic Citation
National Institute of Standards and Standards for use of AI See the URL in the
Technology, Artificial Intelligence Risk systems footnote below.13
Management Framework(AI RMF 1.0
2023)
Washington State Artificial Intelligence ESSB 5838 (2024) See the URL in the
Task Force's Interim Report(December established the footnote below.14
1, 2025) Washington State
Artificial Intelligence
Task Force to evaluate
AI development, use
and risks
Mark H. Francis and Ashwini Jarrala, Washington State See the URL in the
Legal Practitioner's Guide to AI& Artificial Intelligence footnote below.15
Hallucinations (February 16, 2026) Task Force companion
report
Colorado's AI Act(March 26, 2026) Regulation of AI Colo. Rev. Stat. § 6-
1-1701 et. seq. See
the URL in the
footnote below.16
13 https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.AI.100-1,Accessed April 11,2026.
14https://agportal-s3 bucket.s3.us-west-
2.am azonaws.com/A I%20Task%20Force/WA%20AI%20Task%20Force%20-
%20Literature%20Review%20oh/o20AI%20Risks%20and%20Opportunities.pdf?Vers ion Id=2ImmRG ns5cIZgxE
tRqJtYuwtg7eC9q,Accessed April 1,2026.
15 https://nationalcenterforstatecourts.app.box.com/v/Legal-practitioner-guide-AI,Accessed April 1,2026.
16https://practicalcompIiance.thomsonreuters.com/Browse/Home/Jurisdictions/UnitedStates/Colorado/ColoradoStatu
tes?guid=NBB934F3017CE 11 EF9141 A71 BA98479C6&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=Default
&contextData=(sc.Default)&firstPage=true,Accessed April 15,2026.
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APPENDIX B: RELEVANT COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS
This appendix provides references to applicable key regulations and standards. This appendix does
not replace the authoritative source and is only a reference to assist with further research. Please
use the Compliance Standard and Section No. to further research the entirety of the regulation,
framework or standard from the authoritative source.
Compliance
Standard Location Description
HIPAA 45 CFR 164, Subpart C Security Standards for the Protection
of Electronic Protected Health
Information.
45 CFR 164.316 Policies and procedures and
documentation requirements.
PCI DSS v3.2 12.2 at page 295 Acceptable Uses of the Technology.
(Jun. 2024)
NIST CSF 2.0 Information Protection Processes and
Procedures.
(Feb. 2024)
NIST 800-536, AI system Use Notification.
Revision 5 AC-8 at page 40
(Sep. 2020)
Various sections Policies and Procedures.
PL-4 at page 197 Rules of Behavior.
PS-6 at page 226 Access Agreements.
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APPENDIX C: RECORDS PROTECTED
FROM DISCLOSURE BY AN "OTHER STATUTE"
THAT ARE NOT BE USED IN AN AI SYSTEM
[add chart here]
Artificial Intelligence Systems Policy for
Jefferson County
Introduction
Artificial Intelligence(AI)technology is increasingly becoming an integral part of local government
operations, offering opportunities to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of public services. At the
same time,the use of AI also presents ethical, legal, and social challenges that require responsible
management. This policy provides a framework for the effective and responsible use of AI systems
within Jefferson County, to maximize the benefits of these innovative tools while minimizing
their potential risks to both the organization and the public.
The purpose of this policy is to:
•Enable effective use of AI technology by providing clear guidance to Jefferson County
personnel, vendors, and other partners who work with AI systems.
• Inform community members and other stakeholders about how Jefferson County is
utilizing AI technology and what measures it is taking to protect the public from potential
adverse consequences of these systems.
• Promote responsible and ethical use of AI technology by defining the principles and values
that govern the application of this technology within Jefferson County.
• Ensure the compliance of AI systems with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and
regulations as well as existing Jefferson County policies.
•Assign roles and responsibilities related to Jefferson County's use of AI systems.
• Establish processes that encourage effective and responsible use of AI systems.
• Define prohibited uses of AI systems.
• Specify measures which may be taken in the event of failure to comply with these
policies.
This policy may be updated from time to time to account for changes in AI technology, laws
and regulations, uses of AI systems within Jefferson County, and other considerations.
In addition,the Central Services Director may publish an AI User Guide or other related documents that
provide more detailed guidance on how the requirements of this policy are to be implemented. Unless
otherwise stated, any such additional guidance should be considered an extension of this policy and
carry the same requirements for compliance.
This policy is written using 1
Definitions
•AI(Artificial Intelligence): The capability of a machine or system to perform tasks that typically
require human intelligence, such as generating text or audiovisual content, making or
recommending decisions, analyzing data, or automating processes.
•AI Algorithm/AI Model:A set of programmed instructions that processes data to perform
tasks,make decisions, or solve problems within an AI system.
•AI Assistant: An AI tool which is intended to aid a user in their day-to-day work by
suggesting content, retrieving information, automating processes, and performing other
similar tasks.
• Al Policy: A document that provides a framework for the effective and responsible use of AI
systems within an organization.
•AI System: Any tool, software, process, and workflow, or other system which
is based on AI technology or which uses AI technology as a key component of that
system.
• AI Tool: A piece of software which provides AI functionality and can be applied to a specific use
case.
• AI Use Case: A specific task or purpose for which an AI tool is used or under consideration.
•AI User: An individual who is responsible for using,developing,purchasing,
configuring, or maintaining AI systems.
• AI User Guide: A document which supplements an AI policy with more detailed guidance on
how to implement the policy.
•Anonymization: A process by which data is altered so that it cannot be
connected to specific individuals or organizations.
• Bias: Systematic tendencies that can exist within AI systems,often stemming from flawed
data, algorithms, or design processes,that may lead to discriminatory or inaccurate outcomes
affecting certain groups or individuals.
• Black Box Algorithm: An AI algorithm which produces decisions or other outputs
with little or no mechanism for the user to analyze the logic which led to that result.
• Data Privacy: The protection of non-public information about a person or organization from
disclosure without their consent.
• Generative AI: AI systems which use algorithms to create text,audio,image,or video content
based on some combination of user prompts and stored data and instructions.
• Machine Learning: A type of AI which uses algorithms to extract information from
and recognize patterns in data, often used for forecasting, prediction, classification, or
analysis.
• Open Data: Information derived from an organization's operations which is shared publicly to
This policy is written using 2
promote transparency or for use by external parties.
• Protected Data: Information generated or acquired in the course of an organization's operations
which is not intended or approved for public disclosure.
• Public Record: Records stemming from an organization's operations which must by law be
shared upon request, whether or not it is actively published as open data.
Scope
This policy governs the use of AI-based and AI-enabled tools, software, processes, and workflows
(hereafter, "AI systems"),by:
• All departments, agencies,teams and other groups within Jefferson County.
• All individuals (including officials, employees, contractors, consultants, interns, volunteers, and
other persons) within those departments, agencies, teams, or other groups who are responsible for
using,developing, purchasing,configuring, or maintaining AI systems (hereafter referred to as"AI
users").
The policy covers all AI systems used by these individuals and groups, with the following exceptions:
• AI systems which have been evaluated by the Central Services Director and determined to be safe
for unrestricted usage
• AI features included within Jefferson County-maintained applications which are not part of their
core functionality or involve the use of sensitive data.
• AI systems used only for personal use, outside of work hours and not using Jefferson County
resources.
Values and Principles
Our commitment to effective and responsible AI use is grounded in the following foundational values and
principles:
• Accessibility and Inclusivity: AI technologies should be accessible to all residents,
including those with disabilities or limited access.
• Accountability: Roles and responsibilities should govern the deployment and
maintenance of AI systems,with human oversight ensuring adherence to relevant laws
and regulations.
• Bias and Harm Reduction: Measures should be implemented to detect and mitigate biases to
prevent harm.
• Continuous Improvement: AI systems should be continuously monitored and enhanced based
on feedback and technological advancements.
•Data Governance: Proper management,quality,and stewardship of data used by AI systems
should be ensured.
This policy is written using 3
• Digital Literacy: Digital literacy should be promoted among residents to help them understand
and engage with AI technologies.
This policy is written using 4
• Effectiveness: AI systems should be reliable, meet their objectives, and
deliver precise and dependable outcomes in their deployment contexts.
• Explainability and Interpretability: AI decisions should be understandable to those
affected.
• Fairness and Equity:AI systems should prevent discrimination and bias,ensuring fair treatment for
all residents.
•Human-Centered Design: AI systems should be developed and deployed with a
human-centered approach that evaluates their impact on the public.
•Human Oversight:Appropriate human control over AI systems should be ensured,allowing
for intervention to prevent harm.
• Innovation and Sustainability: Technological innovation should be embraced responsibly
while minimizing environmental impact.
• Legal Compliance:AI systems should comply with all relevant laws and regulations.
• Privacy Protection: Residents'privacy concerning their personal data should be protected,and
AI systems must comply with data protection laws.
• Safety: AI systems should not cause harm and should prioritize the safety of residents.
• Security and Reliability: AI technologies should be secure against unauthorized access and
ensure consistent performance.
• Transparency: The purpose and use of AI systems should be proactively
communicated to the public, ensuring that AI systems,their data sources,operational models,
and governing policies are understandable and documented.
•Workforce Empowerment: Staff should be empowered to use AI in their roles through
education,training, and collaborations that promote participation and opportunity.
These values and principles are the inspiration for this policy, and users are expected to incorporate these
same motivations in its implementation. While the ideal course of action may not be obvious
or practical in every circumstance,this policy is designed to offer guidance to help users navigate
such situations responsibly.
Existing Laws and Policies
This policy is designed to facilitate Jefferson County's compliance with all applicable federal, state, and
local laws and regulations,as well as existing Jefferson County policies. In particular,the following laws,
regulations, and policies are relevant to Jefferson County's use of AI systems:
• Resolution No. 50 22.pdf
• 2022-02-28 Jefferson County Public Records Act Compliance Policy(1).pdf
• 2022-02-28 Jefferson County Public Records Act Compliance Policy(1).pdf
• Resolution No. 19-0407-25R(Personnel Admin. Manual).pdf
This policy is written using 5
Roles and Responsibilities
The following individuals and groups are responsible for the duties involved in implementing this policy,
as described below:
Central Services Director
• Developing the AI policy and additional guidance
• Coordinating AI initiatives across departments and teams
• Overseeing compliance with laws and regulations
• Providing guidance to AI users across the organization
• Convening and overseeing the AI Working Group
• Leading the AI review process
AI Working Group
• Reviewing and approving AI projects
•Addressing ethical concerns and conflicts
• Investigating policy violations and recommend corrective actions
• Recommending policy and guidance updates
• Providing regular public reports on Jefferson County AI usage
Central Services Director
• Directing technology resources, policies, projects, and services
• Approving AI policy and related guidance
• Facilitating collaboration between teams and departments for successful AI policy implementation
Central Services Director
• Overseeing enterprise security infrastructure and cybersecurity operations
• Maintaining security policies, procedures, standards, and guidelines
• Monitoring compliance with security policies and related requirements
• Ensuring accurate data sensitivity classification and protections
This policy is written using 6
Central Services Director
•Advising the Central Services Director and others on compliance or legal issues and risks
related to AI usage
County Administrator
• Approving AI policy and subsequent changes
• Providing final determination for AI use cases which involve substantial risks of harm or
other negative consequences
• Enforcing corrective action in the event of policy violations
Department Heads and Managers
• Ensuring personnel and vendor compliance with the policy and integrating policy
requirements into operations.
• Facilitating training for staff on AI policies and practices.
Unless otherwise specified,the specific officials listed above may designate one or more individuals to
act on their behalf with respect to this policy,and in such cases those designees are understood to inherit
the same authorities and obligations as the named officials.
Requirements
Under this policy,all AI users are responsible for complying with the requirements described in this section.
AI System and Use Case Approval Process
•The Central Services Director shall establish a process under which all Al systems and use cases
are subject to a thorough review to determine their compliance with this policy prior to their
implementation.
• In addition to confirming compliance with the specific requirements and prohibitions established
under this policy,the review process will also consider the relative benefits and risks of each
system and use case and determine whether or not approval is reasonable and aligned with the
values and principles defined herein.
• Reviews of AI systems should specify the intended use cases of those systems and whether or
not other other use cases require additional review.
• The results of each review will be documented using a standard template and retained for either
the full lifespan of the system or use case or the retention period required under law for similar
documents (whichever is longer).
This policy is written using 7
• The Central Services Director will create a standard for determining whether or not a particular
system or use case has a high risk of potential negative impacts to any relevant individual,group,
or organization. In the event of a high-risk determination,that system or use case will be
presented to the full AI working group for approval. Lower-risk systems and use cases may be
approved by the Central Services Director at their own discretion, provided that the Central
Services Director is notified of such approval and given the opportunity to review the
documentation and request that the approval be submitted to the full AI working group when
appropriate.
• The Central Services Director will revisit all previously-approved AI systems and use cases at
least once per year,or sooner in the event of substantial modifications(such as a major software
upgrade or change in scope), and confirm the continued compliance and reasonableness of the
system or use case.
Monitoring,Evaluation,and Accountability
•The Central Services Director is responsible for implementing systems to monitor AI system
performance,effectiveness,and policy compliance.The data collected from these systems
will be periodically reviewed to evaluate the effectiveness of AI systems and their impacts
on the community.
•The Central Services Director will establish procedures and protocols for responding to failures
of AI systems and violations of this policy, including corrective actions with regard to both the
systems themselves and the individuals and organizations involved.
• Upon the recommendation of the Central Services Director, Central Services Director, and/or
County Administrator, independent audits shall be conducted to review AI systems for
compliance with policies and ethical standards. Findings from audits and evaluations shall be used
to refine AI policies, improve system functionalities, and determine any additional training or
accountability requirements.
Data Management, Privacy, and Retention
• All AI systems shall comply with applicable data protection laws, regulations, and
policies to safeguard personal and sensitive information.
Bias Mitigation and Human Oversight
•All AI users shall be responsible for taking steps to mitigate potential biases(including but not
limited to biases related to protected characteristics such as race,gender, sexual orientation,
national origin, disability,or language)in AI systems they interact with, in accordance with
training and recommendations provided by the Central Services Director.
Transparency and Explainability
This policy is written using 8
•Upon the consideration or introduction of a new AI system which is likely to have major public
impact, the Central Services Director will ensure that key information is provided to affected
groups and other stakeholders in a timely manner. Such information will be provided in multiple
formats and/or languages if necessary, consistent with Jefferson County's practice in
communicating
• To the greatest extent possible,AI systems should provide clear and understandable explanations
for their decisions and outputs,particularly in cases where erroneous results may create a risk of
substantial negative impacts.
Training and Education
•All users shall be provided with regular training on AI technologies, ethical
considerations, and compliance requirements to ensure knowledgeable and responsible
use of AI systems, as recommended by the Central Services Director.
• The Central Services Director will develop specific training requirements and content for users
granted access to high-risk AI systems and associated data, focusing on compliance with this
policy and other associated laws,regulations, policies, and best practices.
•These trainings will be updated on a regular basis to ensure their accuracy and relevance,and
users' continued access to high-risk systems and data will be contingent upon completion of
additional required trainings determined by the Central Services Director.
Vendors and Third Parties
• All vendors and other third parties who provide or interact with AI systems shall be required to
comply with this and all other applicable policies, and this compliance shall be explicitly included
in all relevant contracts and similar agreements.
• All technology vendors will be required to disclose whether and how AI is used in their products
and services, and what mechanisms they provide to allow for auditing these systems. These
disclosures will be provided using a standard form developed and maintained by the Central
Services Director and required in all technology procurements.
• Vendors shall be evaluated based on their commitment to responsible AI development and
their history of adherence to ethical standards, and preference in procurement decisions will be
given to vendors which can effectively provide transparency into their systems and practices
to both Jefferson County and the public.
Labeling of AI-generated Content
•All content generated by AI systems and presented to the public shall be clearly labeled as such.
This shall include all text, audio, image, and video content, as well as interactive systems such as
chatbots and automated decision-making tools.
• All individuals involved in disseminating such content on behalf of Jefferson County will be
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responsible for ensuring the accuracy of such content and its appropriate labeling,and the
Central Services Director will establish standard mechanisms for Jefferson County
personnel and members of the public to report violations of this requirement.
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Prohibitions
The following actions are expressly prohibited under this policy:
• Deployment or use of AI systems on Jefferson County IT systems or for Jefferson County business
without required authorization,whether or not such the tools used in systems have been approved
for other use cases
• Use of AI systems to impersonate or misrepresent a person, group, or organization or to
otherwise convey potentially misleading information
• Use of AI systems with a high risk of potential negative impacts by individuals without
required authorization and training
• Use of Jefferson County-owned or -licensed AI tools, data, or other infrastructure for
purposes other than those related to Jefferson County operations
• Use of AI systems for purposes which may impact the administration or results of elections
•Use of AI tools which consume excessive energy or resources without
consideration for environmental impacts
These prohibitions are given in addition to the general prohibition on actions which do not comply with
the other provisions of this policy or of other applicable laws, regulations, or policies.
Exceptions to these prohibitions can only be made with the approval of the County Administrator or their
designee. Such exceptions also require appropriate notification to all affected parties and other
stakeholders, including the public when appropriate.
Enforcement
In the event of non-compliance with this policy, the following enforcement actions may be
taken against individuals,vendors,or other parties in order to address specific incidents or repeated
patterns of non-compliance:
• Denial or revocation of access to AI systems and tools
• Disciplinary actions, up to and including termination of employment
• Ineligibility for future employment
• Termination of vendor contracts and other third party agreements.
• Disqualification from future contracts or partnerships
• Personal liability for harms caused by malicious use or negligence
Any such actions will be taken in accordance with the procedures and provisions established in
applicable laws, regulations, policies, contracts, and other standards, in line with the practices applied
for other violations of Jefferson County's information technology-related policies.