Title: An act relating to creating a legislative gift center.

Brief Description: Providing for a legislative gift center.

Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representative Hunt).

Brief History: Passed House: 3/14/07, 95-0.

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 3/22/07, 3/26/07 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.Signed by Senators Fairley, Chair; Oemig, Vice Chair; Roach, Ranking Minority Member; Kline, Pridemore and Swecker.

Staff: Amy Van Horn (786-7784)

Background: Several states have legislative or capitol gift shops, including Arizona, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, and Vermont. These gift shops serve the demand for souvenirs by visitors to the state capitol; they can promote state culture and history; and they can serve to showcase unique, locally-made products.

In Washington, the Secretary of State has a small store in the office reception area that sells items bearing the State Seal, including glassware, men's ties, wine bags, and office items. Proceeds from the sale of items bearing the State Seal go into the Capitol Building Construction Account for use in the historical restoration and completion of the legislative building.

Summary of Second Substitute Bill: A gift center is created in the Legislature for the sale of products bearing the State Seal, Washington souvenirs, other Washington products, and other approved products. The Chief Clerk of the House (Chief Clerk) and the Secretary of the Senate (Secretary), or their designee, will have governance over the gift center, and will collaborate with the Department of General Administration for planning, siting, and maintenance of the facility.

The sale of products bearing the State Seal must have prior approval from the Secretary of State pursuant to an agreement between the Chief Clerk, the Secretary, and the Secretary of State.

Proceeds from the gift center will be deposited as follows: 25 percent to the Legislative Oral History Account; 25 percent to the Oral History, State Library, and Archives Account; and 50 percent to the Capitol Furnishings Preservation Committee Account. All proceeds from the sale of items bearing the State Seal will be deposited in the Capitol Furnishings Preservation Committee Account. The gift center may also designate special sales.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY RECOMMENDED AMENDMENT(S) AS PASSED COMMITTEE (Government Operations & Elections): Provides that expenditures from the legislative gift center account may only be authorized by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate, or the lead staff person designated by them to oversee management and operation of the gift shop, instead of by the Director of the Office of Legislative Facilities or the Director's designee.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: The legislative building in Carson City, Nevada has a beautiful gift shop. They sell things related to the state like glassware, sweatshirts, local art, and local books, and it is very profitable. Carson City is a small town and the legislature meets every other year. The staff there estimated that the shop earns profits of about $250,000 a year when the legislature is not in session, and up to $450,000 when it is in session. As an example of the potential market here, the Capitol Campus had 7,000 visitors in the first two weeks of February alone, and those visitors had no place to buy a postcard or a t-shirt to commemorate their trip.

The Secretary of the Senate advised that we would need a bill to create the gift shop. The gift shop will support several good programs and the Secretary of State, and it can also have special sales. For example, the Governor's Mansion is turning 100, and there is a book coming out celebrating the First Ladies of Washington. The gift shop could sell that book, and put the profits directly in the mansion's account. There is money in both the capital budget and the operating budget to start this off.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Hunt, prime sponsor; Shane Hamlin, Legislative Liaison, Washington Secretary of State.