Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Capital Budget Committee |
HB 2352
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Concerning the building for the arts program.
Sponsors: Representatives Tharinger, Fitzgibbon, Leavitt, Harris and Wylie.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/23/20
Staff: Kelci Karl-Robinson (786-7116).
Background:
The Building for the Arts (Arts) program provides competitive grants to nonprofit organizations to acquire, construct, or rehabilitate performing arts, art museums, and cultural facilities. The Department of Commerce (Department) administers the Arts application process. Primary duties of the Department include project selection (with a citizen advisory committee); and managing the contracts for grants that are awarded. A ranked list of qualified projects, including descriptions, amount of state funds requested, and non-state funding sources must be submitted to the Governor and Legislature biennially. The total amount of recommended state funding must not exceed $12 million. The total amount of state capital funding available for Arts projects is determined by the Capital Budget. In 2019-21, $12 million was appropriated for 14 projects.
The state match must not exceed 20 percent of the total cost of the Arts project. The non-state portion of the project cost may include cash, the value of property and in-kind contributions.
The Department must include provisions in the contracts that require the capital improvements be held by the grantee for a specified period of time and that the facilities be used for the express purpose of the grant. If a grantee is found out of compliance, they must repay to the State General Fund the principal amount of the grant, plus interest.
Summary of Bill:
The maximum amount of state funding for the Building for the Arts program is increased from $12 to $18 million for the prioritized list of performing arts, art museum projects, and cultural organization projects submitted by the Department of Commerce each biennium. The maximum state match for each individual project is increased from 20 percent to 33.33 percent of the total cost.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 22, 2020.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.