Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
State Government Committee

HB 2366

Brief Description:  Clarifying acceptance of gifts by the archives and oral history program.

Sponsors:  Representatives Ogden, Woods, Romero, Skinner and Chase; by request of Secretary of State.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Allows the Secretary of State to solicit gifts, grants, conveyances, bequests, etc. and to use any proceeds realized from these gifts to fund the functions of the State Archivist, the oral history program, and international trade hosting and misions.

Hearing Date:  1/29/02

Staff:  Marsha Reilly (786‑7135).

Background:

Among the many programs under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of State are the Division of Archives and Records Management and the oral history program.   The state archivist is responsible for the preservation and destruction of public records.  The purpose of the oral history program is to record and document oral histories of current and former members and staff of the Washington State Legislature, current and former state government officials and personnel, and other citizens that have had an active role in Washington's political history.

In 1996, a law was passed authorizing the Secretary of State to accept gifts, grants, conveyances, bequests, etc.,  to expend any proceeds realized from these gifts, except as limited by the donor's terms, and to adopt rules to govern and protect the receipt and expenditure of the proceeds.

Summary of Bill:

The Secretary of State may solicit gifts, grants, conveyances, bequests, and devises, of real or personal property, in trust or otherwise.  Solicitation and receipt of gifts are limited solely for the purposes of:  1) conducting oral histories; 2) archival activities; and 3) international trade hosting and missions.  Receipts and expenditures must be accounted for in the Secretary of State's revolving fund and expenditures are managed by the Secretary of State and do not require legislative appropriation.

Persons soliciting or accepting contributions for the Secretary of State's revolving fund are exempt from the limitation of soliciting or accepting contributions 30 days before and after a regular legislative session and during a special session, and are not considered a violation of the code of ethics.

Rulemaking Authority:  No express authority.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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