HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5310

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Capital Budget

Title:  An act relating to heritage capital projects.

Brief Description:  Requiring a process to solicit proposals for and prioritize heritage capital projects.

Sponsors:  Senators Haugen, Winsley, Wojahn and Prince; by request of Washington State Historical Society.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Capital Budget:  3/27/95, 3/30/95 [DPA];

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CAPITAL BUDGET

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Sehlin, Chairman; Honeyford, Vice Chairman; Ogden, Ranking Minority Member; Chopp, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Hankins; McMorris; Mitchell; Pennington; Regala; Silver and L. Thomas.

Staff:  Karl Herzog (786-7271).

Background:  Two historical societies are charged with the preservation of materials of historical interest in Washington State: The Washington State Historical Society (WSHS) and The Eastern Washington State Historical Society (EWHS).  WSHS operates two museums: The State History Museum in Tacoma, and the State Capital Museum in Olympia.  EWHS operates the Cheney Cowles Museum and the historic Campbell House in Spokane.  Capital projects within these museums are supported by a combination of state appropriations and private contributions.

In addition to the two state-chartered historical societies, many community-based public and non-profit organizations across the state maintain records, artifacts, and sites concerning the heritage and history of the state.  Currently, no formal state grant program exists to support the capital facilities needs of these entities.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The Washington State Historical Society must establish a competitive process to solicit and prioritize heritage capital projects for potential funding in the state capital budget.  Local governments, public development authorities, nonprofit corporations, tribal governments, and other entities, as determined by WSHS, may apply for funding.  WSHS must adopt rules governing project eligibility and evaluation criteria, and recommend a prioritized list of heritage capital projects to the Governor and Legislature by September 1 of each even-numbered year, beginning in 1996.  The list must be developed through open and public meetings with the advice of leaders in the heritage field, including but not limited to the Office of the Secretary of State, the Eastern Washington State Historical Society, and the State Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.  The Governor and Legislature may consider the list in appropriating capital funds for heritage projects beginning with the 1997-99 fiscal biennium.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The committee amendment specifies  three of the organizations that must be involved in establishing the prioritized list of recommended heritage capital projects, and requires that the list be developed through open and public meetings.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note:   Requested March 27, 1995.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Every community has an historical past.  The bill will provide opportunities to preserve this history.  The bill will also provide an incentive for local historical preservation efforts. 

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, prime sponsor; and Michael Warner, Washington State Historical Society. (pro)