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SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 622
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C 268 L 85
State of Washington 49th Legislature 1985 Regular Session
By House Committee on Trade & Economic Development (originally sponsored by Representatives Vekich, Braddock, Basich, Kremen, J. King, Nutley, Schoon, Sanders, Peery, McMullen, Hargrove, L. Smith, Niemi, Brough, Bristow, Unsoeld, Todd, Allen, Armstrong, D. Nelson, Cole, Appelwick, Smitherman, G. Nelson, P. King and May)
Read first time 3/8/85 and passed to Committee on Rules.
AN ACT Relating to the Washington centennial commission; amending RCW 27.60.900; adding a new section to chapter 27.60 RCW; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature declares that Captain Robert Gray's discovery of Grays Harbor, successful crossing of the Columbia river bar, and first entry into the great "River of the West" on May 11, 1792, were some of the greatest events in Northwest maritime history. The legislature further declares that Captain Robert Gray's exploration of the Columbia river, Grays Harbor, and Washington's coastal regions, Captain George Vancouver's exploration and mapping of Puget Sound and Washington's coastal regions, and the mapping and exploration of the Washington coast and inland areas by the Captain Charles Wilkes expedition were events of momentous historical significance and must be preserved for the inspiration of future generations. To these ends, the legislature finds that it is in the public interest to establish a "Return of the Tall Ships" program.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 27.60 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The 1989 Washington centennial commission shall include in its comprehensive program events commemorating:
(a) The first successful crossing of the Columbia river bar and exploration of the Columbia river, Grays Harbor, and Washington coast by Captain Robert Gray;
(b) The exploration and mapping of Puget Sound and the Washington coast by Captain George Vancouver; and
(c) The exploration and mapping of the Washington coast and inland areas by Captain Charles Wilkes and the Great United States Exploring Expedition.
The year 1992 will mark the bicentennial of the voyages of both Captain Robert Gray and Captain George Vancouver and the sesquicentennial of the voyage of Captain Charles Wilkes.
(2) The commission shall develop and implement the "Return of the Tall Ships" program. The purpose of this program is to develop destination tourism attractions and to promote the construction of life-sized replicas of the "Lady Washington" and the "Chatham," or other vessels which carried members of the Gray and Vancouver expeditions to this region and other appropriate commemorations of the accomplishments of these explorations in cooperation with communities throughout the state. The commission shall consider locating the destination tourism attractions required by this section in the economically depressed areas of the state. The commission shall report to the legislature and the governor on or before January 10, 1986, as to a plan to implement the purposes of this chapter.
As used in this section, "destination tourism attractions" means attractions based on the heritage of the state that are sponsored and owned by the state, a municipal corporation thereof, or a nonprofit corporation which has qualified under section 501(c)(3) of the federal internal revenue code and that satisfy economic development criteria established in cooperation with the director of commerce and economic development in accordance with the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.04 RCW.
Sec. 3. Section 6, chapter 90, Laws of 1982 and RCW 27.60.900 are each amended to read as follows:
The 1989
Washington centennial commission as established by this chapter shall cease to
exist on December 31, ((1990)) 1993.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. There is appropriated from the general fund to the Washington centennial commission for the biennium ending June 30, 1987, the sum of twenty thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to carry out the purposes of this act.