H-2268

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; adding a new section to chapter 42.17 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 custody of the state treasurer. All receipts designated for the account from appropriations and from other sources must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only to finance the activities of the capitol furnishings preservation committee. Only the director of the Washington state historical society or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account when authorized to do so by the committee. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.

(4) The committee may:

(a) Authorize the director of the Washington state historical society or the director's designee to expend funds from the capitol furnishings preservation committee account 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. Moneys received under this section must be deposited in the capitol furnishings preservation committee account; 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.

(5) 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.

(6) Original or historic furnishings from the state capitol group are not surplus property under chapter 43.19 RCW or other authority unless designated as such 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.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 42.17 RCW to read as follows:

When soliciting charitable gifts, grants, or donations solely for the limited purposes of section 2 of this act, members of the capitol furnishings preservation committee are exempt from the laws of this chapter.