SENATE BILL REPORT

ESB 5954

As Passed Senate, February 8, 2002

Title:  An act relating to obsolete racial terminology.

Brief Description:  Updating obsolete language.

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

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  2/26/01, 3/5/01 [DP].

Passed Senate:  3/12/01, 49-0; 2/8/02, 43-4.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Fairley, Vice Chair; Gardner, Hale, Haugen, Horn, Kline, Roach, T. Sheldon and Swecker.

Staff:  Diane Smith (786-7410)

Background:  Current laws refer to people of Asian ancestry as "Oriental."

Summary of Bill:  The term "Asian" shall be used in all statutes, codes, rules, regulations, and other official documents.  Use of the term "Oriental" is prohibited.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill takes effect on July 1, 2002.

Testimony For:  The term "Oriental" is pejorative and refers to persons of Asian descent from a western perspective.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Doris Watanabe; Milaska Nguyen; Miebeth Bonstillo-Hutchins, Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs.

House Amendment(s):  The use of the term "Asian" is to begin with all official documents enacted after July 1, 2002.  The term Spanish Americans in existing law is changed to "Hispanics."