HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 2334

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      State Government

Title:  An act relating to the educational publications of the state historical societies.

Brief Description:  Printing educational publications of the state historical societies.

Sponsors:  Representatives Jacobsen, Ogden, Pruitt, Brough, R. Fisher, Anderson, J. Kohl and Moak.

Brief History:

Reported by House Committee on:

State Government, January 24, 1994, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Anderson, Chair; Veloria, Vice Chair; Reams, Ranking Minority Member; L. Thomas, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell; Conway; Dyer; King; and Pruitt.

Staff:  Bonnie Austin (786-7135).

Background:  The State Printer is generally responsible for providing binding and printing services to the Legislature, the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and all state agencies, institutions, boards, and commissions.  However, some statutory exemptions apply.  The State Printer is not responsible for court reports, bond certificate and bond offering disclosure documents, certain printing done or contracted for by institutions of higher education, and some types of printing costing one thousand dollars or less.

The Washington State Historical Society and the Eastern Washington State Historical Society are currently required to use the State Printer for all of their printing.  In addition to the general office supplies and letterhead used by all state agencies, these societies publish educational publications such as their quarterly historical magazine, books, exhibit catalogues, gallery guides and brochures. 

The state historical societies are funded from a combination of general fund appropriations, membership fees, and federal or private grants and gifts.  According to the State Historical Society, their educational publications are funded solely from non-state monies.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The state historical societies are not required to use the State Printer for the printing of their educational publications.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  A technical change clarifies that the exemption only applies to the printing of educational publications.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Until 1991, the historical societies thought they were exempt from using the State Printer.  The State Auditor informed us otherwise, and since then we have been using the State Printer.  However, the five percent "mark-up" is an unnecessary expense for us, as we find our own printers.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  David Nicandri, Washington State Historical Society (pro).