SENATE BILL REPORT

                           SHB 1792

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, APRIL 2, 1993

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

SPONSORS: House Committee on State Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Zellinsky, Schmidt, King and Ballasiotes; by request of Secretary of State)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. 

     Signed by Senators Haugen, Chairman; Drew, Vice Chairman; Loveland, Oke, Owen, and Winsley.

Staff:  Katie Healy (786‑7784)

Hearing Dates: April 1, 1993; April 2, 1993

BACKGROUND:

The Secretary of State is authorized to provide the official state flag to  units of the armed forces, and may provide the flag without charge.  The Secretary of State may also sell the state flag to any citizen.

SUMMARY:

The Secretary of State may provide the state flag without charge to units of the armed forces, in memory of a state employee killed in the performance of his or her duties for the state, 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 of State may sell the state flag to any citizen.  The Secretary of State may also present the state flag or a similar memento to a visiting state, national, or international guest, without charge.  This shall be provided without expense to the state.

The Secretary of State may accept or request grants or gifts from citizens and other private sources to help defray the costs of providing flags and mementos.  A bank account is established where all funds received for this purpose are placed.  This fund is not considered public funds, is kept segregated and apart from state funds, and is not subject to appropriation or allotment by the state.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

Ambiguous language is clarified.  The Secretary of State is required to give an annual accounting of the fund to the State Auditor.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

There are many requests for state flags for various purposes.  A great deal of reciprocal gift giving occurs.  A yearly accounting is not a problem.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Ralph Munro, Secretary of State (pro)