S-3376.1  _______________________________________________

                 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 8413

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature 1995 1st Special Session

By Senator Sutherland

Read first time 05/01/95.  Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

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

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That programming shall be complete, balanced, and fair without regard to partisanship or ideology and that programming be accurately transmitted to the viewer without manipulation or addition of editorial comment; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That no portion of any TVW funds, public or private, may be used, directly or indirectly, for any of the following purposes:  (1) Attempting to influence the passage or defeat of any legislation by the legislature of the state of Washington, by any county, city, town, or other political subdivision of the state of Washington, or by congress; or (2) attempting to influence the adoption or rejection of any rule, standard, rate, or other legislative enactment of any state agency; or (3) making contributions reportable under chapter 42.17 RCW; 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 adoption of a floor resolution between TVW and the Senate.

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