SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 1079
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
State & Local Government, February 21, 2002
Title: An act relating to naming state buildings.
Brief Description: Specifying how state buildings are named.
Sponsors: House Committee on State Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Romero, Hankins, Haigh, Miloscia, Dickerson, McDermott, Kenney and Edwards).
Brief History:
Committee Activity: State & Local Government: 2/20/02, 2/21/02 [DPA].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Majority Report: Do pass as amended.
Signed by Senators Gardner, Chair; Hale, Haugen, Horn, Keiser, Kline and Swecker.
Staff: Eugene Green (786‑7405)
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 on the state capitol grounds. The Department of General Administration is responsible for the proper care, heating, lighting, and repair of the buildings on the state capitol grounds.
The John A. Cherberg Building, the Joel Pritchard Building, and the Irv Newhouse Building were renamed by Senate resolution, and the John L. O'Brien Building was renamed through House resolution. Other buildings have been designated according to the predominant tenant by the State Capitol Committee upon completion of construction, including the General Administration Building, the Archives and Records Center, the Employment Security Building, the Insurance Building, and the Transportation Building. Other buildings have not been officially named and are referred to by functional names, such as Office Building Two (OB‑2), the Executive Mansion, the Visitor Center, and the Greenhouse (or the Conservatory). Most recently, the State Capitol Committee renamed the former Olympia Federal Building as the Dolliver Building after Justice James Dolliver.
Summary of Amended Bill: New and existing buildings, public rooms, or spaces on the west capitol campus but only new and existing buildings on the state capitol grounds may be named or renamed by the Legislature based on the recommendation of the State Capitol Committee and the Director of General Administration, with the advice of the Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee.
Existing buildings may only be renamed after a substantial renovation or change in predominant tenancy. The names on the facades of the state capitol group shall not be removed.
New or existing buildings may be named or renamed after:
1)an individual significant in Washington history;
2)the purpose of the building;
3)the single or predominant tenant of the building;
4)a significant place name or a natural place in Washington;
5)a Native American tribe located in Washington;
6)a group of people or type of person; or
7)any other appropriate person consistent with the above criteria as recommended by the Director of General Administration.
An existing room or space may only be renamed after a substantial renovation. New or existing public rooms or spaces may be named or renamed after:
1)an individual significant in Washington history;
2)purpose of the room or space;
3)a significant place name or a natural place in Washington;
4)a Native American tribe located in Washington;
5)a group of people or type of person; or
6)any other appropriate person consistent with the above criteria as recommended by the Director of General Administration.
In naming or renaming buildings, rooms and spaces, the State Capitol Committee must consider 1) any disparity that exists with respect to the gender of persons after whom buildings, rooms, and spaces are named; 2) the diversity of human achievement; and 3) the diversity of the state's citizenry and history. When naming a building, room or space after a significant person or group, it will only be after the tenth anniversary of the person's death or the death of the last surviving member of the group.
Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill: The naming of public rooms and spaces in state-owned buildings is limited to the west capitol campus, rather than all of the state capitol grounds.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: We should have guidelines to follow in the naming of buildings and policy decisions need to consider women, as well as others. Local historical societies have voiced interest in bringing names forward. We want names that citizens can identify with so there is no loss of public grandeur.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: PRO: Allyson Brooks, State Historic Preservation Officer; Martin Casey, General Administration.