SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESB 5354

               As Passed Senate, March 18, 1997

Title:  An act relating to the capitol committee.

Brief Description:  Removing the commissioner of public lands and adding the secretary of state to the membership of the capitol committee.

Sponsors:  Senators Benton, Anderson, Rossi and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  2/28/97, 3/4/97 [DP, DNP].

Passed Senate, 3/18/97, 47-1.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chair; Hale, Vice Chair; Anderson and Horn.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Patterson and Swanson.

Staff:   Eugene Green (786-7405)

Background:  The two administrative committees of state government are the State Finance Committee and the State Capitol Committee.  The State Capitol Committee may erect permanent buildings, temporary buildings, excavate for such buildings, and make other temporary or permanent improvements to the capitol grounds belonging to the state and known as the ASylvester site@ or ACapitol place@ in Olympia.

The committee consists of the Governor or the Governor=s designee, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Commissioner of Public Lands, who is the secretary of the committee.

The Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee is an advisory group to the Capitol Committee and the director of General Administration to review programs, planning, design and landscaping of state capitol campus facilities.  The Secretary of State is a member of this advisory committee.

Summary of Bill:  The Secretary of State is added as a member of the State Capitol Committee.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The committee has changed composition a number of times and the Secretary of State is also a member of the advisory committee.

Testimony Against:  The Commissioner of Public Lands is the trust manager for the grant lands that provide revenue for capitol campus improvements.  Therefore, the Commissioner should stay on the committee.

Testified:  Jennifer Belcher, Commissioner of Public Lands; Donald F. Whiting, Secretary of State.

House Amendment(s):  The State Capitol Committee is required to approve the recommendations of the WW II Advisory Committee for the design and siting of the WW II memorial on the state capitol campus.  The State Capitol Committee is required to study the need for repairs to the Governor=s mansion and report its findings to the Legislature on or before January 1, 1998.