HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2845

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      State Government

Title:  An act relating to naming state buildings.

Brief Description:  Establishing naming guidelines for capitol campus buildings and spaces.

Sponsors:  Representatives Romero, Hankins, Morris, Wolfe, Edwards, O'Brien, Linville and Kenney.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

State Government:  2/1/00, 2/4/00 [DPS].

           Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$Provides the State Capitol Committee the authority to name new or existing buildings, spaces, or rooms on the state capitol grounds.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives McMorris, Republican Co-Chair; Romero, Democratic Co-Chair; Campbell, Republican Vice Chair; Miloscia, Democratic Vice Chair; Dunshee; Haigh; Lambert and D. Schmidt.

Staff:  Jim Morishima (786-7191).

Background:

There are no statutory provisions relating to naming state buildings. 

The State Capitol Committee, with the assistance of the Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee, is responsible for fully or partially erecting permanent and temporary buildings, excavating such buildings, or making other temporary or permanent improvements to the state capitol grounds.  The Department of General Administration (GA) is responsible for the proper care, heating, lighting, and repair of the buildings on the state capitol grounds.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

The Legislature may, by resolution, name a building, open space, or public room on the state capitol grounds based on a recommendation by the State Capitol Committee.  When recommending a name for a building, space, or room, the State Capitol Committee must obtain assistance from the Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee and must base the name on a recommendation from the GA.  The State Capitol Committee may only recommend a name for an existing building, space, or room after a substantial renovation or change in tenancy. 

The State Capitol Committee may only recommend that a building, space, or room be named after:

$an individual who has played a significant role in Washington history;

$the purpose of the building, space, or room;

$the predominant tenant agency in the building; or

$a natural place in Washington.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill allowed the State Capitol Committee to name buildings, spaces, and rooms and did not require legislative action before a building, space, or room could be named.  The original bill required the State Capitol Committee to consider gender disparity when naming buildings, spaces, and rooms.  The original bill, in addition to the names allowed by the substitute bill, allowed the State Capitol Committee to name buildings, spaces, and rooms after Native American tribes, groups of people or types of persons, and any other appropriate name recommended by the GA.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  (Original bill) Not many buildings on the capitol grounds are named after women.  We should recognize the contributions made by women in this state.  This bill requires that gender disparity be considered, but does not require that buildings be named after women.  There should be a statutory process for naming state buildings.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Romero, prime sponsor; Ralph Munro, Secretary of State; Alice Soulek, Women's Symposium Community, St. Martin's College; and Evalyn Poff, American Association of Retired People.