BILL REQ. #:  S-0421.3 

Read first time 01/16/09.   Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.

     AN ACT Relating to expenditures for works of art; amending RCW 43.17.200; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature recognizes one of its foremost duties is the prioritization and wise use of taxpayer funds. The legislature concludes that the placement of art at a correctional facility is not a priority over other state programs such as education and public safety, and further expenditures on such activities constitute a misuse and waste of taxpayer funds. To prevent such misuse of taxpayer dollars, the legislature hereby intends to prohibit the expenditure of public funds on placement of works of art in the special commitment center on McNeil Island, secure community transition facilities and other halfway houses operated by the department of social and health services to house persons subject to the community protection act of 1990, and facilities operated by the department of corrections.

Sec. 2   RCW 43.17.200 and 2005 c 36 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     All state agencies including all state departments, boards, councils, commissions, and quasi public corporations shall allocate, as a nondeductible item, out of any moneys appropriated for the original construction of any public building, an amount of one-half of one percent of the appropriation to be expended by the Washington state arts commission for the acquisition of works of art; however, no moneys shall be expended on, nor allocated for, the acquisition or placement of works of art in the special commitment center on McNeil Island, secure community transition facilities and other halfway houses operated by the department of social and health services to house persons subject to the community protection act of 1990, or any facility operated by the department of corrections. The works of art may be placed on public lands, integral to or attached to a public building or structure, detached within or outside a public building or structure, part of a portable exhibition or collection, part of a temporary exhibition, or loaned or exhibited in other public facilities. In addition to the cost of the works of art, the one-half of one percent of the appropriation as provided herein shall be used to provide for the administration of the visual arts program, including conservation of the state art collection, by the Washington state arts commission and all costs for installation of the works of art. For the purpose of this section building shall not include highway construction sheds, warehouses or other buildings of a temporary nature.