HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                      Olympia, Washington

Bill Analysis      Bill No. SB 5551

                                           (See HB 1431)

Designating significant historic places                   Public Hrg:  3/28/97

Brief Title

Senators Prince/Fraser/Haugen                        Staff Contact: B. Mauldin

Sponsor                                    Comm. on Govt. Admin.

                                           Phone: 786-7093

BACKGROUND:

The Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, within the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, is responsible for maintaining the State Register of Historic Places, a register of Washington districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects of historical, architectural, archaeological, and cultural significance.  The office prepares nominations for the state and national registers of historic places, in addition to other duties.  In order to be accepted, nominations to both the state and national registers must fulfill criteria set by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and must comply with any standards and regulations promulgated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior for the preservation, acquisition, and development of such properties.  The State Historic Preservation Officer makes the final decision on which nominations to accept for the state register.

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation also reviews and recommends  nominations for the state and national registers of historic places.

SUMMARY:

The State Register of Historic Places is renamed the Washington Heritage Register.

Nominations to the Washington Heritage Register are no longer required to comply with standards and regulations promulgated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior.  Instead, they must only comply with rules adopted under state law, including the criteria set by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.  Nominations to the national register of historic places must still conform to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior=s standards and regulations.

The Advisory Council no longer reviews and recommends nominations for the Washington Heritage Register.  It continues to review and recommend nominations for the national register.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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