Title: An act relating to honoring the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr.

Brief Description: Honoring the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sponsors: Senators Kline, Franklin, Shin, Keiser, Weinstein, Poulsen, Thibaudeau, Prentice, Kohl-Welles, Eide, Finkbeiner, Rasmussen and Pridemore.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 2/17/05 [DP].

Passed Senate: 3/8/05, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kastama, Chair; Berkey, Vice Chair; Roach, Ranking Minority Member; Fairley, Haugen, Kline, McCaslin, Mulliken and Pridemore.

Staff: Cindy Fazio (786-7405)

Background: King County was established from a portion of Thurston County by the Oregon Territorial Legislature on December 22, 1852. It was named for William Rufus DeVane King of Alabama, vice-president of the United States from 1853 to 1857 under the Franklin Pierce administration. On February 24, 1986, the King County Council changed the origin of the name to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Summary of Bill: King County is renamed in honor of Reverend Doctor Martin Luther
King, Jr.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: The King County Council lay the foundation for the name change in 1986, but it is the state that must certify the name. King County is a very diverse county by population and by type of living environment, be it, urban, suburban, or inner city, and when we come together to solve our communities' problems, having the spirit of the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. with us is a great inspiration and motivation. Knowing that the state has officially certified the name change will aid in that regard. If this bill is passed, then the county can begin the process of changing the logo.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Larry Gossett, Metropolitan King County Council.