SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6125
As of January 23, 2024
Title: An act relating to preserving records and artifacts regarding the historical treatment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Washington state.
Brief Description: Preserving records and artifacts regarding the historical treatment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Washington state.
Sponsors: Senators Kauffman, Frame, Wellman, Trudeau, Wilson, J., Conway, Kuderer, Lovick, Nguyen, Nobles, Salda?a, Valdez, Wagoner and Wilson, C..
Brief History:
Committee Activity: State Government & Elections: 1/23/24.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Directs the Division of Archives and Records Management to work with the University of Washington Institute on Human Development and Disability to organize, catalogue, and store historical documents and artifacts identified at Lakeland Village.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT & ELECTIONS
Staff: Greg Vogel (786-7413)
Background:

The Division of Archives and Records Management. The Office of the Secretary of State includes the Division of Archives and Records Management (State Archives), which is responsible for managing the retention, cataloging, and preservation of the public records inventory. The State Archives also operates regional offices that support state and local agencies with records management.


Institute on Human Development and Disability. The University of Washington Institute on Human Development and Disability provides an integrated interdisciplinary program in the field of developmental disabilities to advance basic and translational research and to enhance the capacity of communities to provide state-of-the-art comprehensive services.


Lakeland Village. Originally established in 1914 Lakeland Village is a state operated facility that provides training, education, and healthcare for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Summary of Bill:

Working with the University of Washington Institute on Human Development and Disability, and in consultation with the Department of Social and Health Services and the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, the State Archives must organize, catalogue, and store historical documents and artifacts identified at Lakeland Village.


Historical documents and artifacts may include but are not limited to medical records, letters, images, films, and artifacts of past residents with intellectual or development disabilities at Lakeland Village.


Working in consultation with the State Archives, the University of Washington must:

  • identify all records and artifacts that are available and at risk of destruction;
  • assess the condition of the records and artifacts and level of preservation required; and
  • develop a preservation plan outlining the steps that will be taken to preserve the records and artifacts.

 

The preservation plan must include how the records will be stored, where they will be stored, how they will be handled and transported, and how they will be restored if they are in danger of falling into disrepair, and how they will be digitized.


The preservation plan must include a timeline for the preservation work and an overall budget for the work.


Based on the plan approved by the State Archives, records will be transported and stored in preparation for cataloging and digitization. Records must then be cataloged, digitized, and transferred to archival microfilm for long-term access.


All records and artifacts must undergo an initial historic review and documentation of materials.


The preservation plan must also include future plans for public access for historical and education purposes.


Indirect costs to the University of Washington for this project are limited to 15 percent.
Appropriation: The bill contains a null and void clause requiring specific funding be provided in an omnibus appropriation act.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 16, 2024.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO: This bill was led by the developmental disabilities community. It is a community-driven approach that aims to safeguard historical documents and artifacts associated with the developmental disabilities community. It is important for us to maintain, digitize, and preserve these records. By maintaining them, we find a way to connect to the past and to understand their experiences. The artifacts likely include materials outside the definition of public records, including medical information about individual patients, and public access to the records will be guided by the Public Records Act and HIPAA. For Archives to keep the patient files permanently, almost an entire building would need to be created for storage. It would be good to coordinate this work with local groups.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Claudia Kauffman, Prime Sponsor; Stacy Dym, The Arc of Washington State; Leslie Widing; Brian Hatfield, Office of Secretary of State; Carrie Davidson; Ashley Cowan D'Ambrosio; Monica Thomas; Ryan Grant; Heather Hirotaka, Office of Secretary of State.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.