SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1280

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                  Ways & Means, April 4, 1997

Title:  An act relating to public art and educational displays.

Brief Description:  Removing requirements for public art in department of corrections facilities.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Capital Budget (originally sponsored by Representatives Honeyford, Koster, Sheldon, Sump, Boldt, D. Sommers, McMorris, Clements, Crouse, Dunn, Schoesler, Johnson, DeBolt, Mulliken, Thompson, Mielke and D. Schmidt).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Ways & Means:  4/3/97, 4/4/97 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators West, Chair; Deccio, Vice Chair; Strannigan, Vice Chair; Bauer, Fraser, Long, Loveland, McDonald, Rossi, Schow, Snyder, Spanel, Swecker and Winsley.

Staff:  Bryon Moore (786-7726)

Background:  The visual arts program, administered by the Washington State Arts Commission, purchases works of art for placement in public buildings, on public lands, and in portable art collections.  The program is funded from an allocation of .5 percent of capital budget appropriations for the original construction of new state facilities and public schools.  Works of art are acquired and placed by the commission in collaboration with affected state agencies and school districts.  Once the artwork is acquired, it is added to the state art collection owned and managed by the commission.  Currently, the state art collection contains over 2,900 works of art valued at over $8 million.

In 1995, a temporary ban on the acquisition of works of art for new state prison facilities was enacted by the Legislature.  The ban expires at the end of the 1995-97 biennium.  In 1995, the Department of Corrections and the Arts Commission created a pilot project, known as the Limited Edition Artists' Designs (LEAD) program, for inmate fabrication of multiple copies of works of art for purchase by school districts.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The artwork allocations from Department of Corrections capital appropriations are eliminated.

At least 10 percent of the total value of artwork contracted by the Washington State Arts Commission in each biennial period must be created or fabricated by state prison inmates through the Division of Correctional Industries.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  Clarifying changes are made in order to reflect that the 10 percent Correctional Industries= requirement applies to the total amount of artwork contracted, rather than to each of the participants in the visual arts program.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The bill will save a significant amount of capital dollars, both in the short-term and long-term.  While recognizing the importance of artwork in public facilities, it is important to also prioritize scarce capital dollars.  The requirement that 10 percent of the artwork be created or fabricated by inmates will build upon the partnership between the Arts Commission and Correctional Industries in the LEAD Program.

Testimony Against:  The artwork in the visual arts program benefits the communities in which state correctional facilities are located.  In addition, artwork placed in correctional facilities benefits employees through a better working environment.  By reducing this program, professional artists are hurt.

Testified:  Rep. Jim Honeyford, original prime sponsor (pro); Karen Gose, Washington State Arts Commission (neutral); Janeen Wadsworth, Department of Corrections (neutral); Gretchen Johnston, Washington State Arts Alliance (con).