SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5310

               As Passed Senate, March 15, 1995

Title:  An act relating to heritage capital projects.

Brief Description:  Requiring a process to solicit proposals for and prioritize heritage capital projects.

Sponsors:  Senators Haugen, Winsley, Wojahn and Prince; by request of Washington State Historical Society.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  2/7/95, 2/9/95 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/15/95, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Sheldon, Vice Chair; Drew, Hale, Heavey, McCaslin and Winsley.

Staff:  Diane Smith (786-7410)

Background:  There are state historical societies and agencies with statutory powers and duties.  These societies and agencies are the Washington State Historical Society, the Eastern Washington State Historical Society, and the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation within the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development.

In order to make historical sites and artifacts readily accessible to the citizens, an ongoing program to support the capital needs of heritage organizations is needed.

Summary of Bill:  The Governor and the Legislature are given the benefit of, and must consider, a prioritized list of heritage projects as a guide for appropriating funds in the 1997-99 biennium and thereafter.  This prioritized list is prepared by the Washington State Historical Society from applications for funding of specific projects.  Local governments, public development authorities, nonprofit corporations, tribal governments and other entities as determined by the Society may make application.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Heritage projects do not benefit from the federal largess conferred on arts and cultural endeavors.  The bill will help give heritage projects more budgetary equality.

Testimony Against:  As regards archaeological sites, federal funds must be matched.  These federal standards have been administered by the same office for the past 20 years.  This should not be changed.

Testified:  PRO:  Gail Gosney, Hands On Children's Museum; Mary Thompson, Office of Archaeology & Historic Pres.; Robert Gruhn, WA Museum Assoc.; Patricia Hartle, NW Seaport, Puget Sound Maritime Museum; David Nicandri, Mike Warner, WSHS.