H-2578.1  _______________________________________________

                 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 4406

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

By Representatives Foreman and Ebersole

Read first time .  Referred to Committee on .

Authorizing the operation of equipment to provide unedited television coverage of events within legislative facilities.

    WHEREAS, The citizens of Washington have an inherent right to watch their government at work; and

    WHEREAS, The state of Washington has a long and proud tradition of open government; and

    WHEREAS,  The 1994 Session of the Washington State Legislature extended this tradition by authorizing and supporting unedited television coverage of state government deliberations modeled after the successful national cable channel, C-SPAN; and

    WHEREAS, Section 116 of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 6244, the 1994 Supplemental Budget provided that commencement of operation of equipment for unedited television coverage within legislative facilities would be subject to ratification by both houses of the legislature by concurrent resolution;

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, the Senate concurring, That operation of equipment to provide unedited television coverage of events within legislative facilities is hereby authorized; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this authorization shall be effective in the Washington State House of Representatives upon execution of a Memorandum of Understanding between TVW, the provider of unedited television coverage, and the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, and shall be effective in the Washington State Senate upon execution of a Memorandum of Understanding between TVW and the Secretary of the Senate.

                            --- END ---