HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1792

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      State Government

Title:  An act relating to state remembrances.

Brief Description:  Providing state flags and mementos for certain official purposes.

Sponsors:  Representatives Zellinsky, Schmidt, King and Ballasiotes; by request of secretary of state.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

State Government, March 3, 1993, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Anderson, Chair; Veloria, Vice Chair; Reams, Ranking Minority Member; Vance, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell; Conway; Dyer; King; and Pruitt.

Staff:  Kenneth Hirst (786-7105).

Background:  The design of the state flag is set by statute.  It must be prominently displayed, with the flag of the United States, in schools, court rooms, and state buildings. 

The secretary of state is authorized to provide the flag, without charge, to units of the armed forces and may sell the flag to any citizen at a price set by the secretary.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The secretary of state may, without charge, provide the state flag: in memory of a state employee killed in the performance of his or her state duties; in memory of a current or former elected or appointed state official upon his or her death; or to a citizen who has performed outstanding service for the benefit of the state.

The secretary may also present the state flag or similar memento to a visiting state, national, or international guest.  These mementos are to be given without expense to the state.  The secretary of state may secure private donations for this purpose and must deposit such funds in a bank account established for this purpose.  These funds are not public monies.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill authorized the secretary of state to seek private funds to pay for state flags given for any purpose and to pay for appropriate gifts, mementos and related costs for visiting state, national and international guests.  The substitute bill authorizes the secretary to seek private funds to defray the costs of flags and similar mementos given to visiting guests and requires these non-public funds to be deposited in separate band accounts created for this purpose.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 24, 1993.

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

Testimony For:  This bill is necessary to continue a recently established tradition of providing state flags to the families of state workers who have died in the line of duty, and to the families of deceased state officials.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Ralph Munro, Secretary of State (in favor).