FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6568

C 150 L 04

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Directing the institute for public policy to develop a proposal for establishing a Washington state women's history center or information network.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senators Fraser, Winsley, Kline, Kohl-Welles, Jacobsen, B. Sheldon, Spanel, Keiser, Franklin and Thibaudeau).

Senate Committee on Higher Education

House Committee on Higher Education

Background: According to some people, the state of Washington is recognized as a bellwether state with regard to its efforts to achieve substantial improvements in legal rights and opportunities for women and girls. It is believed there has been no systematic effort to compile this landmark history.

Summary: The Washington State Institute for Public Policy undertakes a study and makes recommendations to the 2005 Legislature for the development of a center or an information network to achieve the following: (1) a systematic approach to collect, preserve, maintain, and provide public access to historically valuable records and artifacts of women's history in Washington, (2) a general outline of where these records and artifacts are located and may be accessed, (3) a method for encouraging citizens with historically significant items to preserve them and make them accessible, (4) programs and displays that can tour throughout the state, (5) a way to make material available to the K-12 and higher education systems, (6) promotion of a collection of oral histories, (7) research collection about women's history, and (8) private donations of funds as well as loans or donations of records and artifacts.

The Institute may create an advisory committee or in other ways consult with interested parties that are enumerated.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate       48  1

House       95  1

Effective: June 10, 2004