SENATE BILL REPORT

HCR 4401

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Government Operations & Security, April 21, 2015

Brief Description: Renaming "Office Building 2" as the "Human Services Building."

Sponsors: Representatives S. Hunt and Reykdal; by request of Department of Enterprise Services.

Brief History: Passed House: 4/10/15, 90-7.

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Security: 4/21/15 [DP].

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Roach, Chair; Pearson, Vice Chair; Liias, Ranking Minority Member; Habib and McCoy.

Staff: Karen Epps (786-7424)

Background: The State Capitol Committee (Capitol Committee) is responsible for the construction, remodeling, and furnishing of capitol office buildings, parking facilities, and the Governor's Mansion, with day-to-day management provided by the Department of Enterprise Services (DES). The Capitol Committee is comprised of the Governor or the Governor's designee, the Lieutenant Governor, the Secretary of State (Secretary), and the Commissioner of Public Lands.

The Capitol Committee and the Director of DES make recommendations to the Legislature for naming buildings on the state capitol grounds. The Legislature must approve the names for new and existing buildings on the state capitol grounds based on the recommendations of the Capitol Committee and the Director of DES, and subject to certain conditions.

The Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee) advises the Capitol Committee and DES by reviewing design and landscaping plans of capitol facilities and grounds, and making recommendations concerning architectural, aesthetic, functional, and environmental issues. The Advisory Committee is comprised of two architects, a landscape architect, and an urban planner, who are appointed by the Director of DES. The Secretary and two members of the House of Representatives and two members of the Senate, one from each major caucus in each chamber, also serve on the Advisory Committee.

Office Building 2 was built in 1975, and is located between the Transportation and Natural Resource Buildings on the East Capitol Campus. The Department of Social and Health Services is headquartered in Office Building 2.

Summary of Bill: The name of Office Building 2 is changed to the Human Services Building based on the recommendation of the Capitol Committee and the Director of DES.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Currently, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) resides in a building known as Office Building 2 (OB2). There was an Office Building 1 that is now known as the Transportation Building. The name of OB2 makes it so the general public has trouble finding where DSHS is located. It would be best for the building to be called the Human Services Building so that the citizens can find where DSHS is located on the Capitol Campus. The state has a population of roughly 7 million and in any given month, DSHS touches about 2.2 million citizens with some form of human services provided by DSHS. Additionally, the 922 employees who work in OB2 take a lot of pride in their mission and naming the building the Human Services Building may help further motivate these employees to take pride in their work when providing these services to the citizens of Washington.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Jarrett Sacks, Department of Enterprise Services; Vann Smiley, DSHS.

Persons Signed in to Testify But Not Testifying: No one.