HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2225

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                  Government Administration

Title:  An act relating to recognition of World War II veterans.

Brief Description:  Recognizing World War II veterans.

Sponsors:  Representatives Conway, Zellinsky, Sheldon, Hatfield, D. Schmidt, Robertson, Kessler, Dunn, O'Brien, Blalock, L. Thomas and Anderson.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Government Administration:  3/5/97 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives D. Schmidt, Chairman; D. Sommers, Vice Chairman; Scott, Ranking Minority Member; Gardner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Doumit; Dunn; Dunshee; Murray; Reams; Smith; L. Thomas; Wensman and Wolfe.

Staff:  Steve Lundin (786-7127).

Background:

1. State capitol campus.

The Department of General Administration has custody and control over the capitol buildings and grounds an supervises the proper care, heating, lighting, and repair of the buildings.

The State Capitol Committee consists of the Governor (or a designee), lieutenant governor, and commissioner of Public Lands.  The State Capitol Committee is authorized to erect buildings and make improvements on the capital grounds.

The Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee is composed of eight persons, two members of the House of Representatives (one from each caucus), two members of the Senate (one from each caucus), and five appointees by the Governor, two being architects, one being a landscape architect, and one being an urban planner.  The Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee advises the State Capitol Committee on the capitol campus master plan, design and siting of facilities, and landscaping designs, including planting proposals, sculpture, and monuments.

2.World War II memorial.

Legislation was enacted in 1995 appropriating $50,000 to the Department of Veteran Affairs for the purpose of erecting a monument on the state capitol campus honoring persons who served in World War II.  An advisory group was created to make recommendations to the department on the type, size, and cost of the memorial and recommend a site on the state capitol campus for the location of the memorial.

The State Capitol Committee rejected the site recommended by this advisory committee and the Capitol Campus  Design Advisory Committee, and chose another site.

Summary of Bill:  The Legislature pledges to facilitate the erection of a memorial on the state capitol campus to specifically recognize men and women of this state who served or were wounded, killed, or missing in action during World War II.

It is directed that the currently approved design for the memorial be sited on the location selected by the World War II Advisory Committee and approved and recommended by the Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee, which is immediately south of the Columbia Street and 11th Avenue axial on the west capitol campus.

The amount of $25,000 is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998, from the general fund to the Department of Veterans Affairs to be used at the discretion of the director with the advice of the World War II Memorial Advisory Committee to accomplish tasks associated with the construction of the memorial.

Appropriation:   The sum of $25,000 from the general fund to the department of Veterans Affairs.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  This is to honor World War II veterans.  We are frustrated that the proposed site was rejected.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Conway, prime sponsor;  and Dan Gogerty, and Francis Agnes, Veterans Legislation Coalition.