HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1923

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      State Government

Title:  An act relating to the advisory council on historic preservation.

Brief Description:  Modifying provisions relating to the advisory council on historic preservation.

Sponsors:  Representatives Veloria, Wood, Jacobsen, Ogden and J. Kohl.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

State Government, March 2, 1993, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  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:  Bonnie Austin (786-7135).

Background:  The State Advisory Council on Historic Preservation was established in 1983 to review and recommend nominations for the state and national registers of historic places, and to advise the governor and the Department of Community Development on historic preservation matters.  The council also makes recommendations on grant awards to local governments with certified historic preservation programs.  The Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, in the Department of Community Development, is responsible for staffing the advisory council.

Members of the State Advisory Council on Historic Preservation include:  the director of the State Historical Society; six members of the public with experience in history, architecture, and archaeology; a Native American; and the director of the Washington Archaeological Research Center.  However, the Washington Archaeological Research Center no longer exists. 

To receive federal funding under the National Historic Preservation Act, state historic preservation programs must have a qualified state historic preservation review board.  The State Advisory Council on Historic Preservation is scheduled to terminate on June 30, 1993.

Summary of Bill:  The termination provision for the State Advisory Council on Historic Preservation is repealed.  The director of the Washington Archaeological Research Center is replaced as a council member by a representative of the Washington archaeological community.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The state will lose $1 million in federal money next year if this bill fails to pass.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Mary Thompson, Office of Archaeology and Historic Programs (pro).