Z-1207.2          _______________________________________________

 

                                  HOUSE BILL 2307

                  _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1992 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Fraser and Brumsickle

 

Read first time 01/14/92.  Referred to Committee on Natural Resources & Parks.

 Altering the Washington state board on geographic names.


     AN ACT Relating to the Washington state board on geographic names; and amending RCW 43.126.025 and 43.126.035.

 

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

 

     Sec. 1.  RCW 43.126.025 and 1983 c 273 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

     There is hereby created a Washington state board on geographic names composed of:

     (1) The state librarian or a representative;

     (2) The commissioner of public lands or a representative;

     (3) The chairperson of the Washington state heritage council created by 1983 law, or a representative; and

     (4) Four members from the general public to be appointed by the commissioner of public lands.

     The commissioner of public lands or his or her representative shall be chairman of the board.

     The members of the initial board to be appointed by the commissioner shall be appointed as follows:  One member for a one-year term, one member for a two-year term, one member for a three-year term, and one member for a four-year term.  Thereafter, each member shall be appointed for a three-year term.  Each member of the board shall continue in office until a successor is appointed.

 

     Sec. 2.  RCW 43.126.035 and 1983 c 273 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

     It shall be the duty of the Washington state board on geographic names and it shall have the power and authority to:

     (1) Establish the official names for the lakes, mountains, streams, places, towns, and other geographic features within the state and the spellings thereof except when a name is specified by law.  For the purposes of this subsection geographic features do not include ((man-made features or)) administrative areas such as parks, game reserves, and dams, but shall include man-made geographic features such as lakes, canals, and islands;

     (2) Assign names to lakes, mountains, streams, places, towns, and other geographic features in the state for which no single generally accepted name has been in use;

     (3) Cooperate with county commissioners, state departments, and agencies, and with the United States board on geographic names to establish, change and/or determine the appropriate names of the lakes, mountains, streams, places, towns, and other geographic features for the purpose of eliminating, as far as possible, duplication of place names within the state;

     (4) Serve as a state of Washington liaison with the United States board on geographic names;

     (5) Periodically issue a list of names approved by the board.