H-1247              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1696

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives R. Fisher, Wang, Winsley, Rasmussen, Schoon, Walk, Pruitt, Walker, Dorn, Tate, Ebersole, Nelson, Jacobsen, Grant, Appelwick, Belcher, Wineberry, Crane, Gallagher, Brough, R. Meyers and Todd

Read first time 2/3/89 and referred to Committee on Capital Facilities & Financing.

AN ACT Relating to the Washington state historical society; creating a new section; making an appropriation; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that:

          (1) The Washington state historical society has been designated in statute as a trustee of the state of Washington for the purpose of preserving and interpreting the history of the state;

          (2) A comprehensive museum interpretation of the history of the state, including all peoples, eras, and regions, would make a valuable contribution to the understanding of that history by the students and adult population of the state;

          (3) A modern, state-of-the-art historical museum would be a major tourism destination attraction and speed the economic diversification of the state;

          (4) The colocation of such an institution with the Union Station in Tacoma would provide a long-term vehicle for the preservation of that building and the state's previous investment in its restoration;

          (5) The creation of a new museum for the Washington state historical society in the heretofore depressed Tacoma Union Station historic district would be a critical factor in the economic and community revitalization of downtown Tacoma; and

          (6) This museum, once constructed, will be a flagship heritage project for the state of Washington and an enduring legacy of the state centennial commemorative era.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The sum of five million two hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the state building construction account to the department of community development for site acquisition and design of an exhibition center for the Washington state historical society adjacent to Union Station in Tacoma.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1989.