HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2010

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to historic cemeteries.

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to historic cemeteries.

Sponsors:  Representatives Ogden, McMorris and Romero; by request of Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

State Government:  2/23/99, 3/2/99 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/11/99, 96-0.

Passed Senate:  4/7/99, 48-0.

Passed Legislature.

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Authority for re-interring disturbed historic graves is transferred to the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.

$The Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation is required to pay to re-inter the historic grave only if there are funds appropriated by the Legislature.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 7 members:  Representatives McMorris, Republican Co-Chair; Romero, Democratic Co-Chair; Campbell, Republican Vice Chair; Miloscia, Democratic Vice Chair; Haigh; Lambert and D. Schmidt.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Dunshee.

Staff:  Scott MacColl (786-7106).

Background:

Historic and abandoned cemeteries are under the authority of the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation within the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development.  Historic graves are described as graves that were placed outside a cemetery that is specifically designated as an abandoned or historic cemetery.

When an historic grave is disturbed through inadvertence, including through construction, the remains are to be re-interred under the supervision of the Cemetery Board, and paid for by the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.

Summary of Bill:

The responsibility for re-interring historic graves that were inadvertently disturbed is transferred to the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, and adds the stipulation that the expense to re-inter the grave will be provided to the extent that funds are appropriated by the Legislature.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For: This bill makes the statute consistent in terms of putting the responsibility for historic graves with the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (OAHP), within the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (DCTED).  This will serve the public through clarification that costs of re-interment be provided by DCTED, but only if there is funding in the budget.

(With concerns) Sometimes re-interring can disturb other historic graves, and can be very costly.  The committee should consider that it ensures the correct technical people do the job.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified:  (In support) Representative Ogden, prime sponsor; and Steve Wells, Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development.

 (With concerns) Rob Kavanaugh, citizen.