FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1154

C 164 L 03

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Funding oral history and archives activities.

Sponsors: By Representatives Haigh, Woods, Miloscia, Armstrong, Hunt, Nixon, Shabro, Sehlin, Tom, Wallace, Conway and McDermott; by request of Secretary of State.

House Committee on State Government

Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections

Background:

Among the programs under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of State (Secretary) are the Division of Archives and Records Management (Division), the Oral History Program, and the State Library. The Division is responsible for historical records preservation and public records management and ensures citizen and government accessibility to these records. The Oral History Program is responsible for recording, transcribing and publishing the recollections of legislators, state officials, and citizens involved with the state's political history. The State Library serves as the corporate library for Washington government and partners with libraries and other entities to provide ready and equitable public access to information.

In 1996 a law was passed authorizing the Secretary to accept gifts, grants, conveyances, bequests, etc., to expend any proceeds realized from these gifts, except as limited by the donor's terms, and to adopt rules to govern and protect the receipt and expenditure of the proceeds.

A provision of state law prohibits state officials, state employees, and state legislators from soliciting or accepting contributions for a public office fund, for a candidate or authorized committee, or to retire a campaign debt during the period beginning 30 days before a regular legislative session through 30 days past the date of final adjournment. The provision also applies for periods when a special legislative session is convened.

Summary:

The Secretary may solicit gifts, grants, conveyances, bequests, and devises, of real or personal property, or both, in trust or otherwise, and sell, lease, exchange, invest, or expend these donations or the proceeds, rents, profits, and income from the donations except as limited by the donor's terms. Solicitation and receipt of gifts may be used only for conducting oral histories, archival activities, and State Library activities.

All moneys received for these purposes must be deposited in the Oral History, State Library, and Archives Account (Account) created in the custody of the State Treasurer, and expenditures from the Account may be made only for the purposes of the Oral History Program, the Archives Program, and the State Library Program. Only the Secretary, or the Secretary's designee, may authorize expenditures from the Account. An appropriation is not required for expenditure, but the Account is subject to allotment procedures.

Persons soliciting or accepting contributions for these programs are exempt from the limitation of soliciting or accepting contributions 30 days before and after regular legislative session and during special session.

Votes on Final Passage:

House 94  0

Senate 45  3

Effective: July 27, 2003