Title: An act relating to state capitol campus governance.

Brief Description: Creating the legislative buildings committee.

Sponsors: House Committee on Capital Budget (originally sponsored by Representatives Hunt, Alexander, Ormsby, Jarrett, Dunshee, Williams and Moeller).

Brief History:

Capital Budget: 1/26/06 [DP2S].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CAPITAL BUDGET

Majority Report: The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass. Signed by 24 members: Representatives Dunshee, Chair; Ormsby, Vice Chair; Jarrett, Ranking Minority Member; Hankins, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Blake, Clements, Eickmeyer, Ericks, Ericksen, Flannigan, Green, Hasegawa, Kretz, Kristiansen, McCune, Moeller, Morrell, Newhouse, O'Brien, Roach, Schual-Berke, Serben, Springer and Upthegrove.

Minority Report: Without recommendation. Signed by 4 members: Representatives Chase, Cox, Lantz and Strow.

Staff: Nona Snell (786-7153).

Background:

The governance of the capitol campus, and all state facilities in Thurston County, is through the State Capitol Committee (SCC), with day-to-day management provided by the Department of General Administration (GA). The SCC was established by the Legislature in 1921 and replaced the State Capitol Commission created in 1901. The SCC: (1) approves construction of all state buildings in Thurston County; (2) approves acquisition of real estate for state government in Thurston County; and (3) carries out other duties as specified by the Legislature. The members of the SCC are the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Secretary of State, and the Commissioner of Public Lands (ex officio).

The Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee (CCDAC) advises the SCC and the Department of General Administration regarding state capitol facilities and grounds. The CCDAC consists of four legislators, the Secretary of State, two architects, a landscape architect, and an urban planner. Staff resources are provided by the Department of General Administration. The CCDAC was originally created by executive order in 1984, continued through budget provisos, and enacted into statute in1990.

The Legislative Building Renovation Oversight Committee was created in 2001 to provide advice regarding the rehabilitation of the Legislative Building. It consists of four legislators.

The Department of General Administration provides staff support to the SCC and the CCDAC, and manages the capitol campus facilities and grounds on a day-to-day basis.

The Joint Select Committee on Historic Capitol District Governance was created in the 2002 Supplemental Capital Budget. Consisting of four legislators, the committee is to make recommendations on governance of the historic capitol campus buildings.

The Capitol Furnishings Preservation Committee is comprised of legislators, representatives of statewide offices, the Washington State Historical Society, and private citizens. The committee was established to: (1) promote and encourage the recovery and preservation of the original and historic furnishings of several buildings including the Legislative Building, the Insurance Building, the Cherberg Building, the John L. O'Brien Building, the Newhouse Building, and the Temple of Justice building; (2) prevent the future loss of historic furnishings; and (3) review and advise future remodeling and restoration projects pertaining to historic furnishings. The committee also has authority to decide whether capitol campus furnishings over 50 years old are surplus or historic items. The committee's authority does not extend to the placement of any historic furnishings within these buildings.

Summary of Second Substitute Bill:

The Legislative Buildings Committee is created and has sole responsibility for internal space allocations and establishing policy regarding the preservation of the historic character of the interior and furnishings for the Legislative Building, the Cherberg Building, the O'Brien Building, the Newhouse Building, and the Pritchard Building, as well as land and parking areas adjacent to these buildings. The Legislative Buildings Committee must coordinate with the State Capitol Committee in matters relating to the establishment of policies affecting buildings and land under this Act.

The Legislative Buildings Committee (Committee) is comprised of the Governor or the Governor's designee and four legislators, one from each major caucus in the House and one from each major caucus in the Senate. The Legislative Buildings Committee may appoint ex officio members at its discretion to assist the Committee with historical, accessibility, structural, or architectural considerations related to interiors of the buildings under its control. Alternatively, the Committee may contract for these services subject to legislative appropriation. Staffing for the committee will be provided by the Office of Program Research and Senate Committee Services.

The Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee advises the Legislative Buildings Committee, in addition to the State Capitol Committee and the Department of General Administration.

The actions of the Capitol Furnishings Preservation Committee must be consistent with the policies established by the Legislative Buildings Committee.

Second Substitute Bill Compared to Engrossed Substitute Bill:

The second substitute bill removes the emergency clause.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 27, 2006.

Effective Date of Second Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: None.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.