Read first time 02/02/2005.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to creating a women's history consortium; adding new sections to chapter 27.34 RCW; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that Washington state is widely recognized as being a steady leader in advancing rights and opportunities for women in all spheres of life. The legislature declares its intent to initiate the establishment of a Washington women's history consortium. This will improve the availability of historical information about the many actions taken by Washingtonians which have resulted in such notable and influential achievements for women and girls, for use by citizens, educators, researchers, and historians.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) A women's history consortium is created with the Washington state historical society as the managing agency. To ensure geographic, demographic, and subject matter diversity, the consortium shall be managed by a board of advisors representing a range of perspectives, including private citizens, business, labor, historical societies, colleges and universities, educators, tribes, and public officials. Appointment of the board of advisors must be completed by September 30, 2005.
     (2) The consortium is attached to the Washington state historical society as the managing agency. Accordingly, the agency shall:
     (a) Direct and supervise the budgeting, recordkeeping, recording, and related administrative and clerical functions of the consortium;
     (b) Include the consortium's budgetary requests in the society's departmental budget;
     (c) Collect all nonappropriated revenues for the consortium and deposit them in the proper fund or account;
     (d) Provide staff support for the consortium;
     (e) Print and disseminate for the consortium any required notices, rules, or orders adopted by the consortium; and
     (f) Allocate or otherwise provide office space for the consortium as may be necessary.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   The board of advisors shall consist of fifteen members. The governor shall appoint eleven members to the board of advisors. Two members of the senate, one each representing the two largest caucuses of the senate, shall be appointed by the president of the senate, and two members of the house of representatives, one each representing the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   Key responsibilities of the board of advisors include:
     (1) Organizational and fiscal planning, management, and oversight;
     (2) Adopting criteria and procedures for consortium membership and member responsibilities;
     (3) Identifying short-term and long-term priorities of the consortium, with special emphasis on short-term priorities relating to preserving historical information from the last several decades before it is lost;
     (4) Appointing special committees and task forces including people from consortium members and nonmembers to assist with the consortium's tasks; and
     (5) Developing recommendations for statewide commemoration of the centennial of the adoption in 1910 of the fifth amendment to the Washington state Constitution, guaranteeing women's suffrage.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   Within available resources, the consortium responsibilities include:
     (1) Compiling a comprehensive index of existing historically relevant materials and making it available in electronic and print form;
     (2) Identifying topics, historical periods, materials, or activities not well represented in publicly accessible collections and developing strategies for making them publicly available, including topics related to motherhood and the accomplishments of mothers in Washington;
     (3) Encouraging collection and preservation of materials important to understanding Washington women's history, with special emphasis on the last several decades;
     (4) Referring potential donors of historical materials to appropriate museums, archives, libraries, and other organizations throughout the state;
     (5) Developing protocols for protection of donations, loans, leases, and purchases of historically relevant materials;
     (6) Encouraging exhibit development and sharing among member organizations and others;
     (7) Encouraging public access and educational institution access to women's history information, materials, and exhibits;
     (8) Seeking private donations to assist with consortium work;
     (9) Developing a concept for a grant program;
     (10) Developing a volunteer program; and
     (11) Encouraging development of curriculum materials.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   The consortium board of advisors shall provide a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2006, addressing the following:
     (1) Progress on activities identified in sections 4 and 5 of this act; and
     (2) Consortium needs and plans for the future.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   The consortium shall provide a report to the governor and the legislature by September 1, 2006, regarding recommendations for commemorating the 2010 centennial of the women's suffrage amendment to the state Constitution.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   Sections 2 through 6 of this act are each added to chapter 27.34 RCW.