H-4525              _______________________________________________

                                          SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 1895

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State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By House Committee on State Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Tanner and Vekich)

Read first time 2/7/86 and passed to Committee on Rules.

AN ACT Relating to the U.S.S. Olympia; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     There is appropriated from the general fund to the state capitol historical association for the biennium ending June 30, 1987, the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, contingent on the receipt of at least two hundred fifty thousand dollars in private funds, to purchase the U.S.S. Olympia, a cruiser currently located in Philadelphia.  The state capitol historical association shall seek private donations to assist in the purchase.

          Upon purchase and through the celebration of the state's centennial in 1989, the state capitol historical association may berth the ship at a location in Washington deemed appropriate to maximize the tourism value and public access.  Thereafter, the ship shall be berthed in Olympia if economically feasible and the state capitol historical association may transfer ownership of the ship to a public organization or sell it to a private nonprofit organization.  The ship shall be preserved as a historic monument and public access to the ship shall be maximized.  If transfer occurs, the state capitol historical association and the state shall be relieved of all liability and costs relating to the ownership, maintenance, or operation of the ship.