Brief Description: Transferring the legislative oral history program from the secretary of state to the legislature.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government & Audit Review (originally sponsored by Representatives Hunt, Skinner and Conway).

House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs
House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government & Audit Review
Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections

Background:

The Oral History Program (Program) is administered by the Office of the Secretary of State (SOS) at the direction of the Oral History Advisory Committee (Committee). The purpose of the Program is to record and document oral histories of current and former members and staff of the Legislature, current and former state government officials and personnel, and other citizens who have participated in the political history of the state.

The Committee consists of four members of the House of Representatives, two from each major caucus; four members from the Senate, two from each major caucus; the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives (Chief Clerk); the Secretary of the Senate (Secretary); and the SOS. The Committee selects persons to be interviewed, decides which transcripts should be published, and advises the SOS on various other processes and program administration. The SOS must contract with independent oral historians and through the history departments of the state universities for conducting and recording the interviews. Transcripts and photographs may be published for distribution to libraries and for sale to the public.

Summary:

The Oral History Program is transferred in part to the Secretary and the Chief Clerk and named the Legislative Oral History Program (Program). The purpose of the Program is to conduct oral histories of current and former members and staff of the Legislature and other citizens who have participated in the political history of the state.

The SOS must conduct oral histories of former members and staff of the Washington state executive and judicial branches of government and other citizens who have participated in the political history of the state. Renamed the Washington Legacy Project (Legacy Project), the Program will serve as a repository for oral histories related to community, family, and other various projects. The SOS may create an advisory council to provide advice and guidance on matters pertaining to operating the Legacy Project.

The Oral History Committee is transferred to the Secretary and the Chief Clerk and renamed The Legislative Oral History Committee (Committee). The Committee maintains its current function and duties. The SOS is no longer a member of the Committee. Ex officio members may be appointed by a majority vote of the Committee's members and the chair of the Committee is elected by a majority vote of the Committee members.

In the event an interview candidate has occupied positions in multiple branches of government, the interview shall be conducted according to the last position held by the candidate, except that the candidate may select which program he or she wishes to prepare his or her oral history.

The Legislative Oral History Account (Account) is created in the custody of the State Treasurer and expenditures from the Account may only be made for purposes of the Program and may only be authorized by the Secretary and the Chief Clerk or their designees. The Secretary and the Chief Clerk may solicit and accept donations for purposes of conducting oral histories.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   95   0
House   95   0
Senate   33   14   (Senate amended)
House   92   1   (House concurred)

Effective: June 12, 2008

Partial Veto Summary: The Governor vetoed Section 16 of the act containing a null and void clause.