SENATE BILL REPORT

                  2SHB 1132

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

           State & Local Government, March 29, 1999

Title:  An act relating to the capitol furnishings preservation committee.

Brief Description:  Establishing the capitol furnishings preservation committee.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Romero, Skinner, Lantz, Hankins, Ogden, Radcliff, Mitchell and Lambert).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  3/24/99, 3/29/99 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Hale, Haugen, Horn, Kline and McCaslin.

Staff:  Diane Smith (786-7410)

Background:  Historic furnishings on the Capitol campus are subject to the Department of General Administration surplus personal property statutes.

Surplus personal property is that for which the agency owning it has no further use.  It may be sold or exchanged at public or private sale.  The funds realized from the sale are paid into the fund from which the property was purchased or into the state general fund.  The division of purchasing maintains records of disposed surplus property.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The 19-member Capitol furnishings preservation committee is established to promote and encourage the recovery and preservation of the original and historic furnishings of the state Capitol campus buildings.  Historic furnishings are furniture, fixtures and artwork at least 50 years of age.

The committee may purchase and preserve historic furnishings; accept donations and grants; and engage in fundraising.  All monies from appropriations and other sources must be deposited into the Capitol furnishings preservation committee account in the custody of the State Treasurer.  Any expenditures from the account must be authorized by the committee and then by the director of the Washington State Historical Society or his or her designee.

All members of the committee, except for the four members of the Legislature, are appointed by the Governor.  These appointments include three private citizens, seven directly-elected statewide officials, the Secretary of the Senate, the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, representatives of the Department of General Administration, the Thurston County Planning Council, and the Washington State Historical Society.

The fundraising activities of the members of the committee are exempt from public disclosure.

Original or historic furnishings are not surplus property unless so designated by the committee.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  The striking amendment clarifies that the location of historic furnishings within the state capitol campus is not within the committee=s jurisdiction.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This bill creates a tenants= committee to ensure the treasures in the state capitol campus buildings stay on campus and are restored correctly.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Rep. Sandra Romero.