BILL REQ. #: H-3652.1

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HOUSE BILL 2413
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State of Washington

60th Legislature

2007 Regular Session

By Representatives McIntire, Fromhold, McDonald, Hankins, Skinner, Quall, McDermott, Eickmeyer, Chase, B. Sullivan, Eddy, Kirby, Wood, Flannigan, Kretz, Hailey, Chandler, DeBolt, Orcutt, Haler, Ericksen, Hunter, Hasegawa, Conway, Grant, McCune, Newhouse, Pettigrew, Blake, Alexander, Williams, Buri, O'Brien, Bailey, Appleton, Springer, Jarrett, Anderson, Miloscia, Priest, Roach, Linville, Sump, Rodne, Warnick, Ross, Green, Kenney, Schual-Berke, Hinkle, VanDeWege, Pearson, Crouse, Barlow, Schindler, Sells, Sommers, Clibborn, Morris, Morrell, Hunt, Darneille, Pedersen, Hurst, Kristiansen, Cody, McCoy, Haigh, P. Sullivan, Chopp, Simpson, Dunshee, Wallace, Campbell, Kagi, Goodman, Strow, Walsh, Dunn, Lantz, Kessler, Seaquist, Hudgins, Moeller, Ericks and Dickerson

Read first time 04/21/2007. Referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs.

AN ACT Relating to establishing the full light of day act; creating new sections; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that the legislative building originally included skylights above the house of representatives and senate chambers. The skylights were removed and the openings in-filled with wood tongue and groove roof decking and metal roofing after the 1949 earthquake caused the glass to break.
     The legislature further finds that safety glass has advanced sufficiently to permit the safe replacement of the skylights, which would allow natural light to reach the legislative chambers. Research indicates that students perform better in classrooms with natural daylight.
     Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to provide an incentive to adjourn early as the sunshine of spring lights the chambers.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 (1) The department of general administration shall replace the materials covering the original skylight openings that are located above the house of representatives and senate chambers in the legislative building with safety glass. The replacement glass must be of a quality that will provide for a reasonable assurance of safety in the event of an earthquake.
(2) The skylights must provide for natural light to the chambers by January 1, 2009.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3 This act may be known and cited as the full light of day act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4 This act takes effect July 1, 2008.

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