Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

General Government Appropriations Committee

HB 3159

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Creates the geographic information system account in the treasury.

Creates a fee of $1,500 for use of the restricted access online report system that provides archaeological, historical, cemetery, cultural, and human remains information.

Background:

The Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation provides historic records to the general public, as well as archaeological, historical, cemetery, cultural, and human remains information to environmental and engineering consulting groups, state agencies, universities and tribes. This information is important for construction purposes, for academic purposes, and for Washington and regional tribes. Until recently, this information was accessed mostly in paper form.

For about two years, the Department has been providing this information electronically through their Geographic Information System (GIS) web site. This web site, called the Washington Information System for Architectural and Archaeological Records Data (WISAARD), has a free, public side that does not require a password, and it also has a restricted-access portal for clients that require information that is more sensitive in nature. Currently, this restricted-access portal requires an account, but it is still free.

Summary of Bill:

Access to the WISAARD restricted-access portal requires paying a fee of $1,500 annually, which is deposited into the geographic information system account. This new revenue source would help to cover the costs of maintenance and operations of the WISAARD web site.