FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1079

C 164 L 02

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Specifying how state buildings are named.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on State Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Romero, Hankins, Haigh, Miloscia, Dickerson, McDermott, Kenney and Edwards).

House Committee on State Government

Senate Committee on State & Local Government

Background:

The State Capitol Committee, with the assistance of the Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee, is responsible for fully or partially erecting permanent and temporary buildings, excavating such buildings, or making other temporary or permanent improvements on the state capitol grounds.  The Department of General Administration is responsible for the proper care, heating, lighting, and repair of the buildings on the state capitol grounds.  However, there are no policies or statutory provisions for naming state buildings.

The John A. Cherberg Building, the Joel Pritchard Building, and the Irv Newhouse Building were renamed by Senate Resolution and the John L. O'Brien Building was renamed by House Resolution.  Other buildings have been designated according to the predominant tenant by the State Capitol Committee upon completion of construction, including the General Administration Building, the Archives and Records Center, the Employment Security Building, the Insurance Building, and the Transportation Building.  Other buildings have not been officially named and are referred to by functional names, such as Office Building Two (OB‑2), the Executive Mansion, the Visitor Center, and the Greenhouse (or the Conservatory).  Most recently, the State Capitol Committee renamed the former Olympia Federal Building as the Dolliver Building after Justice James Dolliver.

Summary:

New and existing buildings on state capitol grounds and public rooms or spaces on the West Capitol Campus may be named or renamed by the Legislature based on the recommendations of the State Capitol Committee and the director of the Department of General Administration, with advice from the Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee.

Existing buildings may be renamed only after a substantial renovation or change in predominant tenancy.  Although buildings of the state capitol group may be renamed, existing names on the facades of these buildings may not be removed.

New or existing buildings may be named or renamed after:

  (1) an individual significant in Washington history;

  (2) the purpose of the building;

  (3) the single or predominant tenant of the building;

  (4) a significant place name or a natural place in Washington;

  (5) a Native American tribe located in Washington;

  (6) a group of people or type of person; or

(7) any other appropriate person consistent with this criteria as recommended by the director of the Department of General Administration.

An existing room or space may only be renamed after a substantial renovation.  New or existing public rooms or spaces may be named or renamed after:

  (1) an individual significant in Washington history;

  (2) purpose of the room or space;

  (3)  a significant place name or a natural place in Washington;

  (4) a Native American tribe located in Washington;

  (5) a group of people or type of person; or

(6) any other appropriate person consistent with the above criteria as recommended by the director of the Department of General Administration.

In naming or renaming buildings, rooms and spaces, the State Capitol Committee must consider: (1) any disparity that exists with respect to the gender of persons after whom buildings, rooms, and spaces are named; (2) the diversity of human achievement; and (3) the diversity of the state=s citizenry and history.

Votes on Final Passage:

House970

Senate445(Senate amended)

House960(House concurred)

Effective:  June 13, 2002