Title: An act relating to transferring responsibilities for the World War II oral history project.

Brief Description: Transferring responsibility for the World War II oral history project to the department of veterans affairs.

Sponsors: By Representatives Conway, Haigh, McCoy, Linville and Dunn.

Brief History:

State Government Operations & Accountability: 1/25/06, 1/30/06 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/7/06, 98-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ACCOUNTABILITY

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Haigh, Chair; Green, Vice Chair; Nixon, Ranking Minority Member; Clements, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Hunt, McDermott, Miloscia, Schindler and Sump.

Staff: Stephanie Toby (786-7106).

Background:

World War II Oral History Project:
The World War II Oral History Project (Project) was created in 2000 to preserve the history and memories of the citizens who contributed to the state and country during World War II for the education of the state's children. The project is administered by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), to the extent that funds are appropriated or donated. The OSPI may contract with schools, the World War II Memorial Educational Foundation (Foundation), and filming and taping specialists. Additionally, the OSPI identifies requirements for instructional guides to help teachers use the material, and reports on the project to the Governor every second year, after the year 2000, in which the Project is funded.

The history and memories are preserved though various methods. The materials prepared through the Project are intended to help the OSPI and teachers in the development of a curriculum for use in kindergarten through 12th grade.

The Advisory Committee (Committee) to the Project, convened and supported by the OSPI, includes members of the Foundation, legislators, representatives of the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) and the Office of the Secretary of State, and others when the need arises.

Department of Veterans' Affairs:
The DVA's mission is to advocate on behalf of veterans for all entitlements, to help veterans heal, to give help to the homeless, to provide quality care in their veterans homes, and to honor veterans in their final resting place. The DVA is divided into three divisions: administrative services, institutional services and veteran services.

Summary of Bill:

All powers, duties, and functions of the OSPI related to the Project are transferred to the DVA. All rules and pending business are transferred to the DVA, and all existing contracts remain in full force. The validity of any act performed by the OSPI before July 1, 2006, will not be affected by this transfer of responsibility.

The following changes are made to the Advisory Committee (Committee):

• representatives from the Washington State Historical Society are added as Committee    members;
• the Secretary of State's Office and interested legislators are removed from the Committee; and
• the provision allowing the Committee to select its own chair and expand its membership is removed.

The following provisions are removed:

• the requirement to provide staffing and administrative support to the Committee;
• the requirement to identify the requirements for instructional guides; and
• the requirement to report on the results of the Project to the Governor.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Preliminary fiscal note available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect July 1, 2006.

Testimony For: It is time to transfer the World War II Oral History Project. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction is in agreement. The DVA will embrace the project and complete the women's portion. The DVA will work with the Washington State Historical Society.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Haigh; and John Lee, Washington State Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.