SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5551

               As Passed Senate, March 12, 1997

Title:  An act relating to significant historic places.

Brief Description:  Designating significant historic places.

Sponsors:  Senators Prince, Fraser, Haugen, Jacobsen, McAuliffe and Winsley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  2/21/97, 2/25/97 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/12/97, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

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

Staff:  Kathleen Healy (786-7403)

Background:  In 1983, the Legislature passed the Historic Preservation Act to provide for the maintenance and preservation of those articles and properties which illustrate the history of the state.  The director of the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED) is authorized to maintain a state register identifying districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects significant in American or Washington State history.  The director also prepares information to support nominations to the state and national registers of historic places.

An Advisory Council on Historic Preservation was established.  The council advises the Governor and CTED on matters relating to historic preservation.  The council also reviews and recommends nominations to the state and national registers of historic places.

Summary of Bill:  The generic term "state register" is replaced with the more specific "Washington heritage register."

Nominations made to the national register of historic places must comply with any standards promulgated by the United States Secretary of the Interior for the preservation of such properties.  Nominations to the Washington heritage register must comply with the standards adopted under state statute.

The advisory council recommends nominations only for the national register of historic places.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This is a housekeeping bill which simplifies the process of identifying historic sites.  This makes it easier for homeowners to have historic sites placed on the state register.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  David Hansen, CTED (pro).