Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
State Government Committee

SB 5954

Brief Description:  Updating obsolete language.

Sponsors:  By Senators Shin, Roach, Oke, Costa, Patterson, Hargrove, T. Sheldon, Hochstatter, Eide and Jacobsen.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Changes references to people of Asian descent from "Oriental" to "Asian".

Hearing Date:  3/21/01

Staff:  Catherine Blinn (786‑7114).

Background: 

Current laws refer to people of Asian descent as "Oriental".

Summary of Bill: 

As of July 1, 2001, all references in state and local statutes, codes, rules, regulations and other official documents to persons of Asian descent must use the term "Asian".  The Economic Assistance Authority must change its definition of "minority" to include "Asian" rather than "Oriental".  "Orientals" is changed to "Asians", and "he" and "his" are changed to "the contractor", for purposes of requiring contractors who contract with first class cities for public works projects to actively solicit subcontracting bids from qualified minority businesses.

References to "Oriental medicine" are exempt until July 1, 2002.  The Commission on Asian Pacific American affairs, the Washington Association of Acupuncturists, and other interested stakeholders must submit a report to the legislature by January 1, 2002 that provides guidelines and proposed substitute language for references to "Oriental medicine" in state and local statutes, codes, rules, regulations and other official documents.  The bill contains an emergency clause.

Rulemaking Authority:  No express authority. 

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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