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

ESB 5954

Brief Description:  Updating obsolete language.

Sponsors:  Senators Shin, Roach, Oke, Costa, Patterson, Hargrove, T. Sheldon, Hochstatter, Eide and Jacobsen.

Brief Summary of Engrossed Bill

$Changes references in Washington law from "Oriental" to "Asian."

Hearing Date:  2/21/02

Staff:  Bree Ramage (786‑7617).

Background:

Some Washington laws refer to people of Asian descent as "Oriental."

Summary of Bill:

As of July 1, 2002, all references to persons of Asian descent in state and local statutes, codes, rules, regulations, and other official documents must use the term "Asian."  Use of the term "Oriental" is prohibited.

In the statute requiring contractors for public works projects for first class cities to actively solicit bids from qualified minority businesses, "Orientals" is changed to "Asians" and references to "he" or "his" are changed to "the contractor."

Rulemaking Authority:  No express authority.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  The bill takes effect on July 1, 2002.