H-1743

AN ACT Relating to the capitol furnishings preservation committee; adding a new section to chapter 27.48 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.19 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that those historic furnishings that illustrate the history of the state of Washington should be maintained and preserved for the use and benefit of the people of the state. It is the purpose of this act to establish the capitol furnishings preservation committee to increase the awareness of the public and state employees about the significance of the furnishings within the state capitol campus buildings as envisioned by the original architects Wilder and White.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 27.48 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this section.

(a) "State capitol group" includes the legislative building, the insurance building, the Cherberg building, the John L. O'Brien building, the Newhouse building, and the temple of justice building.

(b) "Historic furnishings" means furniture, fixtures, and artwork fifty years of age or older.

(2) The capitol furnishings preservation committee is established to promote and encourage the recovery and preservation of the original and historic furnishings of the state capitol group, prevent future loss of historic furnishings, and review and advise future remodeling and restoration projects as they pertain to historic furnishings.

(3) The capitol furnishings preservation committee account is created in the state treasury. Expenditures from the account may only be expended to finance the activities of the capitol furnishings preservation committee, and all expenditures must be authorized by the director of the Washington state historical society or the director's designee. The historical society shall collect all nonappropriated revenues for the committee and deposit them in the proper fund or account. The committee may:

(a) Expend funds for limited purposes of purchasing and preserving historic furnishings of the state capitol group;

(b) Accept monetary donations, grants, and donations of historic furnishings from, but not limited to, (i) current and former legislators, state officials, and lobbyists; (ii) the families of former legislators, state officials, and lobbyists; and (iii) the general public; and

(c) Engage in or encourage fund raising activities including the solicitation of charitable gifts, grants, or donations specifically for the limited purpose of the recovery of the original and historic furnishings. Committee members engaging in the solicitation of charitable gifts, grants, or donations for the limited purposes of this committee are expressly exempt from chapter 42.17 RCW.

(4) The membership of the committee shall include: Two members of the house of representatives, one from each major caucus, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; two members of the senate, one from each major caucus, appointed by the president of the senate; the chief clerk of the house of representatives; the secretary of the senate; the governor or the governor's designee; the lieutenant governor or the lieutenant governor's designee; a representative from the office of the secretary of state, the office of the state treasurer, the office of the state auditor, and the office of the insurance commissioner; a representative from the supreme court; a representative from the Washington state historical society, the department of general administration, and the Thurston county planning council, each appointed by the governor; and three private citizens, appointed by the governor.

(5) Any original or historic furnishings from the state capitol group is not surplus property under chapter 43.19 RCW or other authority unless authorized by the committee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 43.19 RCW to read as follows:

Original or historic furnishings from the state capitol group under section 2 of this act do not constitute surplus property under this chapter.